from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — According to the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan House of Representatives is expected to vote on a horse racing bill to help the industry before their summer break in two weeks.

The proposed legislation will change the current purse pool account system to a new method of distribution based upon wagering on separate breeds. Currently, there are two tracks operating in Michigan — Northville Downs and Hazel Park.

It also limits out-of-state wagering operations from accepting bets from Michigan residents.

To read the complete Detroit Free Press story, click here.

In addition, according to the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association, in a vote taken on May 25, the Michigan Senate passed horse-racing bills — SB 504 and SB 505 — and sent them to the House with a recommendation to pass.

In their May newsletter, the MHHA reports that the legislation eliminating the current purse pool account would allow purses to accumulate at the site specific to the racing breed and that the distribution would be 75 percent to the track and 25 percent to the purse account of the breed racing at that track.

The MHHA also reports that the bill would establish a new Horse Racing Advisory Commission within the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and that the new law would provide for the distribution of more than $1 million, currently held in escrow, for harness racing purses in 2017-2018. Those funds were collected from the 2014 harness racing meet at Hazel Park.

The MHHA highly recommends that Michigan residents contact their State Representative to support SB 504 and SB 505 as amended and have provided this link to find the appropriate representative — http://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/.

To read the May 2016 MHHA newsletter, click here.