AUSTIN, TX—JANUARY 27, 2015—It didn't take long for a Texas Senator to enact revenge on the Texas horse racing industry. Sending a message of disapproval, state Senate budget writers zeroed out funding for the Texas Racing Commission in a report they released today (Tuesday) that estimated the state budget of the next two years.

Sen. Jane Nelson, a Republican from Flower Mound and chairwoman of the Senate Finance Committee, said the line in the Summary of Legislative Budget Estimates for 2016 and 2017 that read, “No funding is included for the Texas Racing Commission” was meant to show that there are “consequences” for defying the senators’ wishes.

The killing of funding for the commission, which has a stated mission of enforcing “the Texas Racing Act and its rules,” was meant as a scornful statement of dissatisfaction for the commission’s decision last year to move forward with a new type of gambling called “historical racing,” despite most GOP senators signing a letter opposing the move.

In defense of the Texas Racing Commission they held public meetings and received over 15,000 letters and phone calls last fall asking them to do something to help the horse racing industry by approving the historical racing.

The Texas legislators have done nothing to help the industry.

Historical racing, in which bettors electronically wager money on previously run horse races that have been stripped of all identifying marks, is seen by track owners and the Texas racing industry as a natural extension of already-legal parimutuel gambling and a necessary way to keep the floundering racing business afloat.

It is currenlty legal as pari-mutuel wagering in many states including Kentucky, Arkansas and Idaho. Historical racing is believed to be the last hope for the state's dwindling horse racing industry that is surrounded by Racinos in Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Last session, the Legislature approved more than $8.3 million in general revenue dedicated funds for each 2014 and 2015 for the commission.

Robert Elrod, a spokesman for the commission, didn’t have a comment on the senators’ action, today other than to say that the commission was unaware of the proposed defunding before Tuesday.

He did point out that the commission is self-funded by the entities it regulates, and the agency’s revenue primarily comes from fees assessed to racetracks and occupational licensees.

Nelson equated historical racing as an expansion of gambling, which can only be accomplished in Texas with a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and the voters’ approval.

“The Legislature should make the decision,” she said.

Sixty-five miles due North of Nelson's district and two miles across the Texas/Oklahoma border sits WinStar World Resort, the "World Largest Casino", built from funds flowing into Oklahoma from North Texas.

Many of state's legislators have accepted campaign donations from casino owners in surrounding states.

Polls show that 80% of Texans would vote to approve gaming in Texas if the legislature would allow it to be brought up, but the state lawmakers sit idly by and let what was once one of the state's biggest industries die a slow death.

Nelson would not say if she thought the final budget would show renewed funding for the commission.

“We’ll see what their response is,” she said.

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SAVE TEXAS HORSES

Let the Texas Senate know that the Texas horse industry is too important for political games. Should she have her way, Senator Jane Nelson will defund the Texas Racing Commission immediately and send what is left of our horse industry out of state.

Please visit SaveTexasHorses.com to make your voice heard today!

CLICK HERE to send your message.