NEWS AND NOTES
March 29, 2013
ACTION ALERT FOR SB 1340
Senator Kel Seliger (R-District 31) has filed Senate Bill #1340 relating to the temporary operation of a race track extension location. The Senate State Affairs Committee initially heard the bill on March 25th and accepted a committee substitute.
This bill extends the time authorized in the Texas Racing Act for a racetrack to offer pre-opening simulcasting from 2 years to 6 years.
The bill will come before the State Affairs Committee again next week, so your immediate action is needed. Please contact the Committee members as soon as possible, preferably via email, to ask for their support of this bill. Then let us know the content of your message and any reply you receive. Be sure to thank them for their time and emphasize that this measure will generate funds vital to the horse racing and breeding industry.
Senate Committee on State Affairs:
Chair:
Sen. Robert Duncan 512.463.0128 512.463.2424 fax robert.duncan@senate.state.tx.us
Vice Chair:
Sen. Bob Deuell 512.463.0102 512.463.7202 fax bob.deuell@senate.state.tx.us
Members:
Sen. Rodney Ellis 512.463.0113 512.463.0006 fax rodney.ellis@senate.state.tx.us
Sen. Troy Fraser 512.463.0124 512.475.3732 fax troy.fraser@senate.state.tx.us
Sen. Joan Huffman 512.463.0117 512.463.0639 fax joan.huffman@senate.state.tx.us
Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. 512.463.0127 512.463.0061 fax eddie.lucio@senate.state.tx.us
Sen. Robert Nichols 512.463.0103 512.463.1526 fax robert.nichols@senate.state.tx.us
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte 512.463.0126 512.463.2114 fax leticia.vandeputte@senate.state.tx.us
Sen. Tommy Williams 512.463.0104 512.463.6373 fax tommy.williams@senate.state.tx.us
For more information on any bill, go to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillNumber.aspx and enter the specific bill number.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
It is time for Texas horsemen to stand up and be heard – so do not miss this opportunity! Our legislation has been filed and referred to committees, and hearings are expected very soon. SB 789 and SJR 36 (proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize video lottery terminals at licensed Texas racetracks) have been referred to the Subcommittee on Fiscal Matters. It is now time for you to do the following:
Please contact each member of the Subcommittee as soon as possible, via email, fax or telephone and ask for their support. Then let us know the content of your message and any reply you receive. Be sure to thank them for their time and emphasize that this legislation allows the citizens of Texas to vote on the issues:
Chair:Glenn Hegar 512.463.0118 512.475.3736-Fax district18.hegar@senate.state.tx.us
Joan Huffman 512.463.0117 512.463.0639-Fax joan.huffman@senate.state.tx.us
Eddie Lucio 512.463.0127 512.463.0061-Fax eddie.lucio@senate.state.tx.us
Jane Nelson 512.463.0112 512.463.0923-Fax jane.nelson@senate.state.tx.us
John Whitmire 512.463.0115 512.475.3737-Fax john.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us
HORSE WEEK AT THE CAPITOL, BUSES FROM RETAMA AND SAM HOUSTON
Texas HORSE (Horse Organizations for Racing, Showing and Eventing) will hold “Horse Week at the Capitol” on April 1-5. As a member organization of Texas HORSE, TTA is calling for Texas horse owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys, track employees and racing fans to come to Austin the week of April 1-5 to meet their Texas State Senators and Representatives to tell their story and ask for the legislators’ support for initiatives beneficial to the Texas horse industry.
To make reservations and receive assistance in arranging visits with their elected officials, participants should call one of these organizations: Texas HORSE at (817) 845-2917 or (512) 934-2974; TTA at (512) 458-6133; or TQHA at (512) 458-5202. Online registration is available at http://texashorseweb.com/?page_id=1598.
Both Retama Park and Sam Houston Race Park will be providing a bus from the tracks to Austin on Tuesday April 2. Groups will be organized and materials distributed on the way to Austin. Email Doug Vair directly at dvair@retama.park.com to reserve your spot on the Retama bus (leaving Retama at approximately 8AM) no later than Friday, March 29th.
Sign up for the Houston bus (leaving SHRP at approximately 7AM) will be in the Sam Houston Racing Office at 281-807-8780 or via email to shopkins@shrp.com.
For more information on any bill, go to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillNumber.aspx and enter the specific bill number. If you do not know who represents you, you may go to http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx or call the TTA office at 512.458.6133.
TRC RULES COMMITTEE ACTION
The Texas Racing Commission Committee on Rules met on Tuesday this week to accept comments on several proposed rules as published in the March 8 edition of the Texas Register, including Rule 307.8, Negotiated Rulemaking and Alternative Dispute Resolution and Rule 309.53, Ownership and Management Review of Active Racetrack Licenses, as well as several greyhound rules.
The Committee also discussed requests for a new Rule 311.112, Equine Dental Provider and requests to amend Rule 303.41, Allocation of Race Dates; Rule 309.151, Change of Ownership, Board of Directors or Management Committee, and Rule 311.5, License Fees.
NOTES… Calvin Borel will be aboard Texas Bling in the Arkansas Derby April 13th…Racing network TVG will provide live coverage of Saturday’s $27 million Dubai World Cup program beginning at 9:00 a.m. EDT…Congratulations to trainer Steve Asmussen, who moved ahead of Hall of Fame conditioner Jack Van Berg into second place for most lifetime training victories…The Fasig-Tipton Texas Two-Year-Olds In Training & Horses of Racing Age under tack show is slated for 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 1 at Lone Star Park. The sale will commence at 12 noon on Wednesday, April 3 in the Texas Thoroughbred Sales Pavilion.