Arizona Thoroughbred Simulcasting

[Track Collector]

I'm going on a racing trip to Arizona next month. I recall from a previous trip years ago that AZ was very protective of the dog racing industry, and that thoroughbred simulcasts were not available after a specific time.

Does anyone know if this is still true, or are late-night thoroughbred simulcasts available at least at the dog tracks or other OTB facilities?

[parshooter]

Pretty much status quo as years past. You get 2-3 races from most night cards
(eg Sam Houston - maybe 1-3,mnr 1-2, etc.) You get complete cards for northern and southern california tracks, so can play thoroughbreds to about 6:30 MDT. They must still be protecting dog tracks. I found this at TuP and their off tracks. Hope this enlightens.

[ALostTexan]

Actually it is a little beyond just protecting the dog tracks, because there is one other lobbying group that has alot more power than the dog tracks or the horse tracks, and it is the Indian casino groups.

From the way it was explained to me, there is a rule that there can be no more expanded gaming in the state. Otherwise, the Indian groups can have basically unlimited gaming rights (craps, roulette, etc.).

So what you have is Arizona horseplayers getting the rules partly that the dog tracks set up a long time ago, and no real way to change it as any sort of change can be read as "expanding gaming", even if it only fixes a current problem with wagering already in place. Currently there is only wagering on dogs and Thoroughbreds, too, no Quarter Horses or Standardbreds. And the rules sort of suck way beyond that. Take for instance the rule that in simulcasting, the outlets must show the post parade. That means that if there is a big Pick 6 carryover at Hollywood Park on one of their nightcap days, in which the races will go past the 7:00 deadline, then there can be no wagers taken on the late races because they cannot show the post parade. Very old and crappy rules, but that is what horseplayers are stuck with in the state.

And just to add to the misery we now have the anti-ADW law in the state, so that horseplayers cannot wager on races at all while in the state, otherwise it is a Class 6 felony, similar to child molestation. Not that it is easily trackable, but out-of-state horseplayers are actually forbidden from making wagers in the state, regardless of their home address. If the wager is not placed at a licensed facility (track or OTB) in the state, it is an illegal wager.

There really is no changing anything soon, either, at least with the current administration in charge of the state.