In a reversal of its controversial decision a year ago, the Texas Racing Commission recently voted 5-4 to repeal a rule that could have allowed horse and dog racetracks statewide to install historical racing terminals. Commission Chairman Rolando Pablos, who was appointed to the commission in December, said the vote to repeal the rule will keep the commission in operation and will help the horse industry. “My desire is to press the reset button. This controversy before us has created a lot of acrimony and a lot of rancor,” Pablos said.
The commission risked losing funding from the conservative legislature unless the rule was repealed. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who opposed historical racing, said, “I support today’s action by the Texas Racing Commission to repeal its rules for historical racing in Texas. With this issue now behind us, I look forward to sitting down with responsible members of the horse racing industry to discuss the future of horse racing in Texas.”
Patrick and state Senator Jane Nelson, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said historical racing was an illegal expansion of gambling, and that the commission did not have the authority to allow it.
In the past the commission has sided with the racing industry and repeatedly voted to allow historical racing in Texas. The machines never have been installed at racetracks due to litigation. Now, with two members on the commission, including Pablos, the issue looks to be set aside for the time being.
But the Texas racing industry is not pleased. Marsha Rountree, executive director at Texas Horsemen’s Partnership, said the commission “sacrificed an entire racing industry.” She said racetracks in neighboring states have a great advantage because they can supplement purses with money from casinos. As a result, horse owners have been leaving the state to compete in Louisiana and other states, Rountree said. “I believe this exodus will increase now,” she added.
Sam Houston Race Park President Andrea Young said the industry can regroup and work with elected officials to come up with a plan for Texas racing. She said lawmakers in the 2017 legislative session will be more receptive to new ideas for helping the state’s struggling racing industry.
