Texas denies new bet machines

The Texas Racing Commission on Thursday tabled a request from Magna Entertainment to place 31 "simplified wagering machines" at Lone Star Park. The machines, geared toward novice horseplayers, are only in operation in Austria.

A real-time race is made available for wagering every five minutes, with limited bets offered. "They are going to have to ensure that the machines can offer greyhound races for wagering," said Paula Flowerday, executive director for the Texas Racing Commission. "The priority of signal rule requires Lone Star Park to offer wagering on all available Texas simulcast signals before it can offer an out-of-state signal."

In other business, Lone Star will drop three dates from its spring meet in 2005. The meet will now run 67 days to July 17.