WV Racing Report Approval Stalls

Blood-Horse

A group of West Virginia racing stakeholders has prepared a report on the state of the industry and makes suggestions on how to improve the economics, but in what some called a surprise, the document wasn’t approved by all the constituents during a Sept. 21 meeting.

The report, called “Reflecting, Reimaging, and Restoring the West Virginia Racing Industry,” suggests working to change state code to allow the West Virginia Racing Commission flexibility in setting live racing dates; updating the code to allow the industry to maintain purses, perhaps with new pari-mutuel tools such as advance deposit wagering; and having the WVRC develop a partnership with the state Division of Tourism and other state agencies to promote the industry.

Legislatively, the report recommends statutory language that restores purses and breed development funds to pre-2014 levels. In the mid-2000s money was shifted to pay for a state workers’ compensation fund projected to be fulfilled in 2016, and more recently the state has taken away more revenue from video lottery terminals and funneled it to other programs.

The report also recommends additional funding for the WVRC so it can properly regulate the industry.

During the WVRC meeting Sept. 22, chairman Jack Rossi said the racing stakeholders’ committee, which was formed by the racing commission, indicated it needed more time to get members together to further discuss the document. He said the report doesn’t need to be approved by WVRC, but the panel is interested in hearing “new and creative ideas.”

Some stakeholders had hoped the report would be approved in time so it could be submitted for an Oct. 19 discussion by a state interim legislative committee looking at gambling revenue in West Virginia. A state-commissioned study authored by casino analysts, however, is expected to be presented at the meeting.

The racing report apparently won’t be ready for that hearing given the recent developments. Nelson Robinson, a lobbyist for Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort, which is represented on the stakeholders’ committee, told the WVRC he didn’t understand the importance of having the report part of the discussion by state lawmakers.

WVRC member Bill Phillips, who offered the resolution that created the special committee, said he believed “it would be helpful if the stakeholders gathered to think about the future and prepare a report that may or may or not be of interest to the special legislative committee (studying gaming in the state).”

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