Texas Threatens To Shut Down Racing Over HISA
 

Sometimes you just have to laugh

I know a lot of players here in this site have wanted to see some level of Federal oversight in the sport as potentially an improvement to enforcing rules and regulations.

After the last couple of years of Covid theater and the response we've seen with that, I think defunding and dismantling the Federal bureaucrats is a more sane path...

The whole HISA thing is really going to test the no-politics-in-the-racing-section rule.

But I agree with Parkview. Let the states continue to work out best practices for themselves.

looks like someone is missing their cut

:lol:

Many tracks are balking at the expenses federal oversight will impose on them and their horsemen. The whole thing has been poorly planned and remains an unwieldy work in progress.

Some racetrack execs see this as a frightened kiss up to peta, others as a thinly veiled plot to force contraction.

But whatever the case, far fewer jurisdictions have signed on for hisa than were probably expected. And some of the resistance has been spirited.

One thing this program HAS managed to engender is a mad, selfish dash amongst bureaucrats and racing officials to secure all the cushy high-paying jobs that it mandates be funded.

Because the racing industry is thriving under state controls?

States have kicked drugs out of racing, right?
States have gotten rid of trainers who violate the rules, right?

Yeah, I thought so.

Yes, I'm sure the transition period to federal oversight has been a bit messy but the feds cant do a worse job than the states have in destroying the sport.

Opinion varies. But, to be blunt, the bulk of resistance has been about $$$.

I figured in Texas it was philosophical since that state has always thought its a country all its own.

One big saving of racing has been interstate wagering. However, when you involve interstate commerce, you invite fed oversight. This is true in every industry. It's a catch22. If state run tracks decide to stop taking wagers from outside the state, the drop in revenue kills their game. If states decide to pay for the extra oversight, the added expense may shut down smaller circuits, Contraction will follow either decision. Or we can scrap the whole idea of fed oversight and play it cheap. And accept whatever each state commission believes is fair to fans. Even though racing is conducting interstate commerce.
If you believe fed bureaucracy is both incompetent AND evil, you would oppose oversight. I choose to believe the fed is just incompetent.

Good post.

Almost everyone wants more uniform rules and strong enforcement because it's a mess now, but almost everyone also knows the government at all levels is corrupt, incompetent, inefficient, and expensive. It's not a choice between good and bad. It's pick your poison.

States should have handled their business. It isn't like it isn't known fact that things have been messed up for a LONG time.

While not a fan of Federal involvement...this could have all been avoided. Choices have consequences.

The politicians in Texas have been looking for an excuse to shut down Horse Racing, Dog Racing and any type of gambling that doesn't involve the state lottery for a long time. They want to make the lottery with its 50%+ take out the only game in town. HISA, is a dream come true for Greg Abbott and his minions.

P.Rosa...thanks for your post. Didn't realize that Texas had that mindset with regards to Horse Racing.