1/29/2021
(Auburn, WA) State Senator Phil Fortunato of the 31st district has sponsored a bill to help the horse racing industry. The Senate bill SB-5364 will take a piece of the sales tax revenue from the purchase of products and services related to equines and re-invest it into racing and equine activities. The Bill would create an industry re-investment account that would receive the dollars and then distribute those dollars to the Washington State Horse Racing Commission. The Commission would then use those dollars to fund the commission, provide financial support to the breeding industry, small fairs that in the past ran short meets to help fund their County and Regional fairs, to fund grants related to equine activities and to help stabilize the Class 1 facilities in regards to the health and safety of horses and research and facility safety improvements.
In the not to distant past Thoroughbred racing thrived not only across the Country but in Washington State. But with the blistering pace of gambling dollar growth from card rooms and bingo halls to State Lotteries to Tribal Casinos it all has impacted the racing industry dramatically. At one point in 80’s there were 3 class 1 tracks, Longacres, Yakima Meadows and Playfair in Spokane along with another class 1 just across the Columbia river in Portland. Plus many county and regional fairs offered racing. Racing also had provided the main funding stream for the county and regional fairs during its boon.
Horse racing has not funded the fairs in many years now and we are down to a single class 1 track, Emerald Downs. Sun Downs a 4-8 day meet that used to run in the Tri-Cities was the last fair meet to run a couple years ago but there are several that would like to bring back racing to help cover their expenses.
The Bill copied many aspects of a similar bill that passed in Texas that has helped their racing industry survive against the constant dividing of the gambling dollar. Many states enjoy a stake in their state’s slot machine revenue but in Washington State, then Governor Locke did not include such a protection to prevent serious impact to horse racing and other small business when slots were first approved.
Although the racing industry has continued to be the only professional sport that has not received the benefit of any kind of public partnership they have always found a way to survive. Now the ask is simple, let them use some of the same dollars they actually generate for the state coffers to help level the playing field and allow them to grow and thrive and to not only save the current tax base provided but a chance to add to it for the benefit of all state tax payers.
The Bill received a first reading in the Senate Committee of Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs. It must pass out of committee then head to the Ways and Means committee and clear that hurdle to get to the Senate floor for a vote. The bill then would then move over to the House where the whole process begins again and if it passes then goes to the Governor’s desk for his signature. The process can be short-cutted if a companion bill can get started in the House so it goes through the initial process at about the same time. Then when each passes they reconcile it into 1 bill and send it to both floors for a final vote.
For those interested in supporting this bill the best way to help is to send a letter of support starting with the Chair of the Senate Labor, Commerce and Tribal Affairs committee, Senator Karen Keiser of the 33rd District. Other members of that committee with their district number that you could also send messages include Senators Steve Conway, Vice Chair 29, Derek Stanford, Vice Chair 1st, Curtis King 14, John Braun 20, Jim Honeyford 15, June Robinson 38, Rebecca Saldaña 37 and Mark Schoesler 9.
If the Bill passes it would take effect beginning this coming July.
Link to list of Senators, e-mail or mail addresses and phone numbers
Interview with Senator Phil Fortunato
www.elisportsnetwork.com
