Voters clear way for betting on horses in Jefferson County, Texas

A referendum that would allow parimutuel wagering on horse races passed Tuesday in Jefferson County, Texas, according to officials. The unofficial margin was 54 percent for the proposition and 45 percent against. A second proposition providing for simulcast wagering in the same county also passed, with both election results expected to become official Nov. 12.

Jefferson County’s largest city is Beaumont, which has a population of about 120,000. Beaumont is located approximately 85 miles from Houston, site of Sam Houston Race Park, and 40 miles from Vinton, La., site of Delta Downs.

It’s unclear what the plans are for Jefferson County.

“I don’t have any details,” said Fred Jackson, staff attorney to the Jefferson County Judge offices. “It’s my understanding a group worked with the legislature, did the petition work to get this referendum on the ballot, and it passed. I don’t know where we go from here.”

An individual with the group did not immediately return a phone call.

For those seeking to build a track in Texas, the first step calls for the Texas Racing Commission to open a license application period, and the earliest that could happen is at the agency’s next meeting, which will be in either January or February, said commission spokesman Robert Elrod.