MA House Passes Suffolk Simulcast Legislation

Blood-Horse

The Massachusetts House of Representatives Dec. 31 passed an amended bill that extended the simulcast rights of Suffolk Downs for 90 days to give track ownership and the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association more time to hammer out an agreement that would restore live racing for the next two years.

The track’s right to import full-card simulcasts was due to expire at midnight New Year’s Eve as a consequence of management announcing in September that it would not apply for a 2015 racing license in the wake of gaming partner Mohegan Sun being bypassed for the Boston area’s single casino license.

The Senate’s version of the bill would have allowed Suffolk Downs to simulcast without live racing until July 31, 2016. The House version retains the 50-50 simulcast revenue split between the track and the horsemen over the 90-day period.

The extension also keeps about 100 employees of the track, which was slated to be shuttered Dec. 31, on the payroll for the next three months.

“The action by the Massachusetts House of Representatives today on Senate Bill 2421 will allow our horsemen and the ownership of Suffolk Downs to continue negotiations for the next 90 days on a lease agreement that will restore live Thoroughbred racing in 2015 and 2016,” New England HBPA president Anthony Spadea said. “The extension of the track’s simulcasting rights, although without live racing, will preserve jobs at Suffolk Downs and maintain the simulcasting revenue split between the horsemen and the track.

“We are thankful for the wisdom and cooperation of all parties. We are pleased that this extension will keep track employees working, and in the short term, it helps to protect the 62 Thoroughbred breeding farms with 6,650 acres of open green space across the state and the rest of the 1,500 direct and non-direct jobs in the Massachusetts Thoroughbred industry.

“Nonetheless, those industry jobs and the statewide Thoroughbred agricultural network, which have an annual economic impact of $116.5 million in Massachusetts, remain at grave risk. It is essential that the horsemen and the owners of Suffolk Downs reach agreement on a two-year lease for live racing during the next 90 days.”

Said Suffolk Downs chief operating officer Chip Tuttle: “As this preserves nearly 100 jobs at the facility for the short term, we are happy that the simulcast extension passed and we appreciate the hard work of the leadership in both houses.”

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