Troubled Texas Tracks in Final Negotiations for Race Dates

September 3, 2010

AUSTIN, (TRC) – Representatives from the horsemen, breed

registries, Texas horse tracks, staff from the Texas Racing Commission and various

members of the public attended the meeting led by Commissioners Ronald Ederer

(committee chair),

at Lone Star Park on July 16 and Sam Houston Race Park on August 13.

Although tracks submitted formal race date calendar requests for 2011 and part of 2012 to

the Commission on August 18, comments at the Austin meeting clearly indicate that

negotiations among tracks and horsemen continue. The dates the Commission allocates to

tracks throughout the state make up the Texas racing calendar.

Industry stakeholders continue to bring new ideas and potential race date alternatives to

the discussion. During the meeting, talk centered not only on the dates requested by the

tracks, but also on 2011 calendars submitted by other stakeholders, including an alternative

proposal developed by staff at the Racing Commission.

— On September 1, the Texas Racing Commission hosted a Horse Race DateAnn O’Connell and Scott Haywood. The meeting followed similar events

The staff’s alternative plan address

dates for all breeds

meets. Finally, the plan maximizes racing opportunities on balance with the operational and

financial needs of the

es several major issues. The plan provides spring race dates and offers sufficient and meaningful opportunities for proposed mixed tracks and horseman’s purse amounts..

The full Commission expects to allocate race dates at its September 14, 2010, meeting.

Committee chair Ederer charged the tracks and other industry stakeholders to continue

talking during the next two weeks.

Commissioner Ederer said, ”

There’s a lot of work that can still be done on this calendar. I

encourage the industry’s stakeholders to do it.”