Texas Thoroughbred Association urges commission not to repeal historical racing rules

The Texas Thoroughbred Association on Thursday issued a statement supporting historical racing in advance of a Texas Racing Commission meeting at which the panel will consider repealing rules passed last year that provide for the electronic parimutuel game. The commission meeting is Tuesday in Austin.

The Texas Thoroughbred Association represents more than 1,000 owners and breeders in the state. Its position is that historical racing is crucial to the survival of the Texas industry, which cannot have its purses supplemented by offtrack wagering, account wagering, or gaming. Texas is surrounded by states able to supplement purses by gaming.

The historical racing rules passed by the commission provided for historical racing terminals at the state’s tracks, but none are installed at this time. The rules were challenged in court by charitable bingo and tribal interests, and the judge ruled that the commission did not have jurisdiction to pass historical racing rules and that it was a matter for the legislature. The commission did not appeal the court’s ruling, but some entities in the state’s racing industry did appeal, including the TTA.

“The prospect of historical racing in Texas is the only thing providing hope to our struggling industry,” Mary Ruyle, executive director of the TTA, said in Thursday’s release. “We firmly believe that historical racing provides a means of parimutuel wagering and falls within the commission’s scope of authority under current law.

“The Texas racing industry is in severe decline and on the verge of disappearing altogether. As the commission is well aware, Texas horses, horsemen, and associated service industries are being forced to leave Texas and take their business to other states that supplement purses with proceeds from gambling activities that are illegal in Texas.”

In a letter the TTA sent to the commission, it has asked the panel to await the outcome of the appeal prior to addressing the repeal of historical racing rules.

“The only development since the historical racing rules were adopted that casts any doubt on the commission’s authority is a district court decision that is being appealed,” the letter reads. “If historical racing rules are repealed, that appeal becomes moot. The TTA believes the commission should await the outcome of that legal process before making any changes that would mean the industry’s hard work over the past year has been all for naught.”

The commission is still awaiting funding approvals from the Texas legislative budget board in an issue many have speculated is tied to the historical racing case. The finances would need to come through by Aug. 31 or racing could be forced to shut down in Texas, at least temporarily. Many insiders believe that is an unlikely development.

“We still see that as a worst-case scenario,” Robert Elrod, spokesman for the commission, said on Thursday.