More Progress for Historical Horse Racing Bill in KY bloodhorse.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bloodhorse.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Credit J. Tyler Franklin / WFPL
Legislation to keep slot machine-like historical racing games in Kentucky got its first hearing in the General Assembly on Thursday.
Senate Bill 120 seeks to codify historical racing in state law after the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled last year that the machines don’t qualify as “pari-mutuel wagering,” the gambling form traditionally used for betting on horse races.
Historical racing parlors have become lucrative businesses for some racetracks in Kentucky, which doesn’t permit traditional casinos.
Tom Drury, a horse trainer from Goshen, said revenue from historical racing has helped keep the horse industry afloat in the state.
Kentucky lawmakers advance historical horse racing bill
By BRUCE SCHREINERFebruary 4, 2021 GMT
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) Kentucky lawmakers started advancing a bill Thursday to prevent the unplugging of historical racing machines that have expanded into lucrative ventures for the state’s horse tracks.
The measure cleared the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee and heads to the full Senate, where its prospects are bolstered by support from Senate President Robert Stivers and Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer. In the House where it would go if it passes the Senate the proposal is backed by Speaker David Osborne.
Despite those endorsements, anti-gambling opponents vowed to mount strong resistance when the measure comes up for more action in the Republican-dominated legislature.
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By ruling a type of historical horse racing machine is not pari-mutuel, and therefore illegal in the state, the high court left the matter in the legislature s hands. Their dilemma: Allow the ruling to stand and risk losing what s been called crucial funding for the horse racing industry, or pass legislation keeping the machines legal but raising constitutional questions.
Horse trainer Tom Drury told lawmakers the economic effects of losing the games could ripple through the industry and the commonwealth. I think the trickle down effect from this could be devastating to the state, whether it s a guy that sells programs, a farmer that sells hay, or tack supply stores, he told the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee.
Kentucky Senators Introduce Historical Horse Racing Bill To Preserve The Status Quo - Horse Racing News paulickreport.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from paulickreport.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.