Page 25 - 8March2013.pdf

Of the 287 Texas-based survey respondents:
245
50%
245 are racehorse owners, 185 are breeders and 68 are trainers
54%
79%
81%
54% own six or more horses and 20% own 20 or more
79% currently race in Texas
81% also currently race in other states
50% say that 75% or more of their racing is conducted out of state
38%
50%
43%
38% have an investment of more than $250,000 in horse racing in Texas
50% have annual expenses of more than $50,000 in horse racing in Texas
43% say they will reduce their investment in the Texas horse racing industry in 2013
as purse monies and race opportunities have declined in Texas and increased in Oklahoma and New Mexico, our focus has shifted to rac- ing in those states. We may soon be forced to move our breeding operations to those states in order to survive and prosper.”
Texas HORSE – which stands for Texas Horse Organizations for Racing, Showing and Eventing – is hoping to turn all of that around. Since 2008, the Austin, Texas-based group has followed a leg- islative strategy that advocates a joint resolution for
a constitutional amendment to allow Texas voters to decide whether slot machines should be permit- ted at racetracks. If passed, the Texas horse racing industry will be able to compete with surrounding states on a level playing field.
This is not the first time Texas HORSE has made a strong legislative push. During the 2011 Legislative Session, Texas horsemen banded together to show their support in Austin during Texas HORSE’s “Day at the Capitol.” More than 800 people representing various equine groups
marched at the Texas State Capitol on March
31, 2011, to support SJR 33/ SB 1118, and HJR 111/HB 2111. The group drew attention not
just from its large number of supporters present but also with animals representing the various areas that will be positively impacted with the passage of the bills. An American Quarter Horse, American Paint Horse, Thoroughbred, Mustang and two Greyhounds greeted Capitol visitors.
Unfortunately, both bills died in commit- tees at the close of that legislative session. This year, they are hoping for better results. The current Regular Session began on Jan. 8 and runs through May 27.
“On Friday (Feb. 22), Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa introduced a bill in the Senate,” Texas HORSE Executive Director Dan Fick told Speedhorse. “Bill 789 is the enabling legislation that has all the details, and the constitutional amendment is 36, which calls for a vote of the people on allowing video lottery terminals at tracks and for tribes. Once we get our legisla- tion filed on the House side also, so we have bills on both sides, we’ll get the horsemen to start contacting their legislators, tell them their story and urge them to support the bills.”
Fick was confident the House bill would be filed by the March 8 deadline. In the meantime, he has been busy meeting with racetrack offi- cials, politicians, horsemen and the media, try- ing to get the word out and drum up support.
“I’m finding when I sit down with some fairly knowledgeable legislative directors, in Representatives’ offices in particular, they’ve heard that horses are leaving Texas,” Fick said. “But when I show them the statistics, they say, ‘Oh! I had no idea it was that drastic.’”
One of the statistics that hits home for horsemen and legislators alike is the imbalance
2012 QH Purses
State
Days
Races
Purses
Avg. Daily Purses
Avg. Purse
Louisiana
148
1,450
$22,776,050
$153,892
$15,708
New Mexico
287
1,327
$32,686,316
$113,890
$24,632
Oklahoma
114
950
$18,338,200
$160,861
$19,303
Texas
83
780
$8,279,232
$99,749
$10,614
2011 TB Purses
State
Days
Races
Purses
Avg. Daily Purses
Avg. Purse
Louisiana
354
3,531
$86,081,780
$243,169
$24,379
New Mexico
283
1,731
$31,285,280
$110,549
$18,074
Oklahoma
132
1,102
$22,864,874
$173,082
$20,732
Texas
121
995
$15,218,740
$126,823
$15,295
SPEEDHORSE, March 8, 2013 23