by Marty Evans, for the Ohio State Racing Commission

Columbus, OH — At the monthly meeting of the Ohio State Racing Commission in Columbus on Tuesday (April 29), five resolutions related to various aspects of racing in the state were approved.

Resolution 2014-9 spelled out the sample testing costs for Thoroughbred ($154) and Standardbred ($163) races at commercial racetracks effective on July 1. Horsemen will pay the cost of testing winning horses. The racing commission will pay for special tests requested by state stewards and presiding judges. The cost of testing human samples is also paid by the commission.

The variation in testing costs between breeds is a result of the cost of testing at county fairs. This testing is subsidized by the increased amount paid from purse pools at harness tracks.

Resolution 2014-10 details the recipients of taxes ($1,988,039.41) on gross casino revenue forwarded to the commission on April 15. Breed development funds (Standardbred and Thoroughbred) each received $377,700 and, in total, $835,000 will be added to purse pools at commercial tracks.

Four racetracks do not have an ownership stake in an Ohio casino — Miami Valley Gaming & Racing, Northfield Park, Belterra Park and Scioto Downs. Each will receive $74,500. The commission will get $99,400 to support certain, pre-approved activities.

Resolution 2014-11 will allow the commission to receive $1.96 million from the Video Lottery Terminal revenue due to harness horsemen at Miami Valley, Northfield Park and Scioto Downs. The money, pending approval by the Ohio Controlling Board, will be forwarded to Ohio county fairs.

Each of 65 fairs where racing takes place will receive an equal share of $1.5 million to use for purses. Racing fairs will also get $6,500 to defray expenses. Non-racing fairs will receive $1,300 for expenses.

The last two resolutions, 2014-12 and 2014-13, relate to requests by Penn National Gaming Inc. The first allows an intercompany transfer of permits from HJC/PDC Holdings LLC to Youngstown Real Estate Ventures LLC.

The permits allowed racing and simulcast wagering at Beulah Park in Grove City. Beulah Park closes on May 3. The permits will be shifted to Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course. The new racetrack opens later this year. Live racing begins on Nov. 24.

The second resolution allows the transfer of permits from Raceway Park in Toledo (HJC/PDC Holdings LLC) to Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway (Dayton Real Estate Ventures LLC).

Penn National also won permission to close Raceway Park on June 30, two months before the scheduled closing date. The racetrack has accepted simulcast wagers only in 2014.

Dayton Raceway is expected to open for simulcasting on Sept. 1, with live racing scheduled to begin there on Oct. 1. The racetrack is currently under construction.

The commission also heard updates on efforts to reach agreements by mid-June on the percentage of VLT revenues set aside for purses. Representatives of harness horsemen, Miami Valley and Northfield Park all reported progress.

They will continue to meet in advance of the next monthly meeting of the commission on May 22. It will be held at the Riffe Center in Columbus and begin at 10 a.m.