Horse Racing

Sam Houston continues to broadcast simulation after HISA ruling


Sam Houston Racecoursehas not exported simulated signals out of state since its Thoroughbred meeting began January 6 amid protests from the Texas Equestrian Commission and other Texas organizations against the Safety and Integrity Authority in Horse Racing, will resume the domestic simulation on February 3.

The move comes after a ruling on January 31 by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request by HISA and the Federal Trade Commission to block the appeals court’s ruling that HISA essentially is unconstitutional. Tuesday’s decision also means a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of HISA rules issued by a federal district court in Louisiana, an injunction that has been partially retained by the Fifth Circle until proclamation. declared HISA unconstitutional in November, still in effect.

TRC CEO Amy Cook said: “I’m grateful now to have some legal support to say it doesn’t apply in Texas right now and we can allow cavalry and our track. I output the signal”.

Dwight Berube, vice president and general manager at Sam Houston, expressed relief at the resumption of broadcast simulations, noting that bets on Sam Houston have dropped “perhaps 90% since last year, but that’s the thing.” That’s understandable and exactly what we were predicting when we lost the sign export.”

Simulcast bets make up the majority of betting at most Thoroughbred races.

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Betting also plummeted in July at Lonely Star Park when the simulation broadcast processing stops working at the start of the HISA Track Safety Program. In the second half of 2022, quarter horse races are largely held in Texas, and that breed is not under HISA oversight.

According to HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus, if TRC chooses not to allow racecourses to output their signals, they are not under HISA’s jurisdiction.

In light of limitations on simulation broadcasting, the track cut the length of the season from 50 to 43 days and eliminated several stake races, including a pair of races from the Houston Racing Festival. The entire purse has dropped from $12 million in 2022 to $10 million this year. About half of that $10 million was funded from a state law passed in 2019, transferring part of the proceeds from sales taxes on feed, nail and horse feed products into a single account. purse support.

“We missed our big day,” Berube said of the January 28 card that includes the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3), among other races. “But I’m happy to have (simulation) back.”

Berube said the track will resume starting the afternoon cards at 1pm CT this week from February 3 to 5 but could move into the “later part of the day” on Fridays, potentially starting starting February 10.

“We will probably ask the commission tomorrow,” he added.

In late December, legislation was passed as part of a composite bill in Washington that aims to put HISA on a stronger legal footing, clarifying some of the languages ​​that allow it, but last month Cook said she feels found it still doesn’t resolve the conflict. between HISA and the Texas Racing Act. Lazarus said in early January that she disagrees with TRC’s interpretation of Texas racing laws.

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