Texas legislators have come to an agreement to temporarily fund the state racing commission, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement Tuesday evening.
The Texas Racing Commission suspended operations earlier Tuesday, meaning horse and dog racing tracks could not take bets. That included Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, where officials said racing and simulcast operations were closed "until further notice."
Commissioners recently voted to let tracks install "historical racing" terminals, allowing betting on already-run races stripped of identifying information.
State lawmakers opposed to the move threatened to withhold funding in response. Money for the commission is available, but must be appropriated by House and Senate members of the Legislative Budget Board.
That approval now appears to be on track, at least on a temporary basis, according to Patrick's statement. In full, the lieutenant governor said Tuesday:
"I am very pleased to announce that House Appropriations Chairman John Otto has joined the Senate Legislative Budget Board (LBB) members' plan to extend temporary administrative funding for the Texas Racing Commission. This authorization immediately allows the commission to operate for the next 90 days.
It also allows Governor Greg Abbott additional time to name members to the three expired terms of the Texas Racing Commission.
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Any disagreement with the commission that resulted in this stalemate was never about ending horse and dog racing in Texas. Instead, it was about making sure the appointed commissioners follow the law as directed by the legislature and a state district judge.
I appreciate the hard work of Chairman Otto and Chairwoman Jane Nelson for working to resolve this issue today."
Rancher Kie Mushinski has 22 horses preparing to run at Lone Star Park and said he wants to see the historical gaming terminals installed in Texas tracks.
"All the surrounding states have alternative gaming, and their purses are a lot better and the horses are going to other states," said Mushinski. "We're just trying to hold on and make it better for Texas."
One of the lawmakers opposed to the "historical racing" terminals is State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, chair of the Senate Finance Committee. In a letter to the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Nelson wrote the Texas Racing Commission, "exceeded its authority and violated the Texas Constitution by approving Las Vegas-style slot machines known as historical racing last year."
Veterinarian Dr. Tommy Bullard said watching politics pull the reins on funding for racing is disheartening.
"It's extremely frustrating. I'm not saddened because I've been hardened on politics with how they manipulate things," he said.
Lone Star Park is set to begin its fall racing schedule on Sept. 18.
Racing Commission Rider 7 Letter to Otto (Text)
