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National racing compact will try to add horsemen’s support

Posted: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 6:17 PM

by Frank Angst

Officials who favor a national racing compact to streamline the rule-making process in horse racing will have the chance to make their case with horsemen later this month.

The 2010 National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association Summer Convention has scheduled a panel discussion on the compact for July 22 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ed Martin, president of the Association of Racing Commissioners International and a proponent of the compact, will participate in the discussion.

Remi Bellocq, chief executive officer of the National HBPA, noted his association has not taken a position on the compact, which would allow participating states to discuss rule proposals as a group, reach a consensus, and then take those ideas to their individual states for approval, or possibly changes. He said the HBPA board could take a position after hearing the panel discussion, which also will include opponents of the idea, later this month.

Colorado regulators have received state approval to join any such compact. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission plans to begin to look into the compact. The New York State Racing and Wagering Board is seeking state approval, but Martin noted Standardbred horsemen in New York have opposed compact legislation.

The issue was discussed on Tuesday at Keeneland Race Course during a panel discussion on the implementation of rule proposals during the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit.

Alex Waldrop, president of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, personally favors the creation of such a compact but noted he has not reached a consensus within his association. He said a group of NTRA members would like to see federal regulators step in to oversee the sport, although he questioned how much actual support exists for such an idea in Washington.

Vince Gabbert, Keeneland Association’s executive assistant to the president, who previously worked in Kentucky politics, said state legislators probably would enjoy the addition of a compact to streamline the racing rule-making process.

Currently, the RCI adopts model rules after consideration by its board, at committee levels, and before all of its members. Industry participants have input in the process. Member states then are encouraged to adopt the model rules to provide consistency in regulation of racing from state to state.

Lisa Underwood, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, said her commission typically puts a model rule through a similar process at the state level, also inviting industry input. Rules that emerge from that process are then sent to the state for approval. She noted that by including industry concerns, rules often face a smoother adoption process at the state level.

Martin assured industry groups, such as horsemen, that they would continue to have input in the rule-making process, both at the compact level and at the state level. He said a compact would allow states to pool resources in gathering information on new rules. He said it would foster a private-public partnership on the adoption of new rules.

RCI plans to continue to inform industry groups about the compact this year in an effort to elicit state legislative support for the compact in 2011.

Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times