Rival regulatory groups explore a plan to merge

Officials of the Association of Racing Commissioners International have begun exploring a possible merger with their rival group, the North American Pari-Mutuel Regulators Association, but the possibility of a quick consolidation seems unlikely at this point, officials from both organizations said Monday.

Pressure for a merger has been rising at RCI and among other industry officials because of industry-wide efforts to reach an agreement on uniform medication rules and some ongoing financial difficulties for RCI. Now more than ever, supporters of a merger said, it makes little sense for Thoroughbred racing to have two separate organizations to draft guidelines and maintain databases of rulings, which are the principal goals of the two groups.

At the recent University of Arizona Symposium on Racing, officials from both organizations agreed to cooperate on several efforts, including the drafting of model rules, or guidelines. Despite the RCI's general willingness to explore a merger, however, officials from NAPRA have said that they prefer to go their own way for the time being.

"My board has not told me to work towards that," Frank Lamb, the executive director of NAPRA, said on Monday. "We have a set of goals, and we are trying to accomplish a lot of things. Turning our energies toward a merger is not one of those goals."

NAPRA, which represents 27 member jurisdictions, was formed in 1997 by a number of racing commissioners who were openly critical of the RCI and its former president, Tony Chamblin. The group originally had 12 members, but over the past four years, it has grown in size and stature to rival the RCI.

The RCI has 22 members, including such heavyweights as California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, and New Jersey. But the past five years have taken a political and financial toll on the organization, starting with controversy over Chamblin's salary. The criticisms dogged RCI until Chamblin's resignation this year.

Chamblin, who at one point earned more than $200,000 as president, stepped down on July 1 of this year, citing the controversy. Recently, Chamblin filed a lawsuit against several RCI commission members alleging that he was defamed before he resigned.

After a brief executive search, Lonny Powell, a former racetrack executive, was hired late this summer to replace Chamblin. Powell, who was traveling, did not return a phone message on Monday.

Several racing regulators said Monday that RCI is having difficulty meeting its expenses, increasing pressure on the organization to sign on more member jurisdictions, cut its expenses, or cooperate on efforts with NAPRA. RCI is financed principally by annual membership dues, as is NAPRA.

A commissioner from an RCI-affiliated state who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that RCI has struggled to cope with its reduced revenues, but that the organization is not considering any radical changes yet.

"That is not the case," the regulator said. "Financially, the organization is stable. Membership dues are what they are, and they aren't strong. But the organization can survive."