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Montana House Supports Slaughter Bill

The Montana House of Representatives strongly endorsed a bill Feb. 24 that paves the way for construction of a horse slaughterhouse in Montana and aims to bring the industry back to the United States.

Tracks Included in Texas Gaming Bill

Some Texas lawmakers are trying again to establish Las Vegas-style casinos in the state, and they say now is the time to do it because the state needs the money. Racetracks would be included, according to legislation unveiled Feb. 24.

Maryland Challenges MEC Lawsuit

The state of Maryland is challenging Magna Entertainment Corp.'s claim that the state's slots bidding process is unconstitutional.

No Table-Games Vote for Charles Town

A Penn National Gaming Inc. official said the company doesn't plan to ask voters this year to approve table games at Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia.

Laurel Slots Bid Called Into Question

In a jaw-dropping revision, Maryland received requests for far fewer slot machines in five license proposals than previously thought, and two of the six bidders -- including Laurel Park owner Magna Entertainment Corp. -- failed to pay $22.5 million in required up-front fees, a state official said Feb. 3.

Massachusetts Gaming Vote Still Possible

Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo said Feb. 2 House lawmakers could vote on legislation to expand gambling before the end of the year -- the surest signal yet that casinos or slot machines may be coming to the state.

Nicanor Finishes 10th in Career Debut

Nicanor's debut wasn't one to remember. The 3-year-old full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro finished 10th in a one-mile maiden race at Gulfstream Park Jan. 31, hardly an encouraging step toward what his connections hoped would be a journey into this year's Triple Crown races.

Oaklawn Opens With Focus on 3-Year-Olds

Larry Jones might have one of the top Kentucky Derby (gr. I) hopefuls this year, and he plans to bring the horse to Arkansas.

Curlin Bids Farewell at Churchill Downs

Horse of the Year Curlin closed out his record-setting career at Churchill Downs Nov. 29, as he was paraded in front of fans on the final day of the track's Fall Meet.

Rule Targets Internet Gambling Payments

The Bush administration issued a final regulation Nov. 12 aimed at banning Internet gambling, drawing criticism from Democrats who said it would burden financial companies.

Massachusetts OKs Ban on Dog Racing

Massachusetts voters reversed course Nov. 4 and approved a ban on Greyhound racing in the state eight years after they narrowly defeated a similar ballot question.

Ohioans Again Reject Casino Gambling

Ohio voters Nov. 4 rejected a proposed $600-million casino -- the fourth time plans for expanded gambling in the state have been turned down since 1990.

No Action Yet on Dutrow Ruling in KY

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission postponed taking action Oct. 27 on trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.'s suspension and sent his case back to a hearing officer to gather more information.

Former NYRA Employees Sue Over Charges

Two former state horseracing officials accused of lying about how much jockeys weighed have filed a $100-million lawsuit against ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer and state officials a year after charges against them were dismissed.

Kentucky Governor Bans Steroids in Racehorses

Testing for anabolic steroids in racehorses in Kentucky will begin with the start of the Keeneland fall meet under emergency regulations signed by Gov. Steve Beshear Sept. 5.

The regulations, approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in August, are now in effect under the Beshear order. The regulations pertain to the commonly used steroids bol...

Jockey Dies From Injuries in New Mexico

Jockey Juan Campos died Aug. 16 from injuries suffered in a racing accident at the Downs at Albuquerque that same day.

Suffolk Downs, Dog Track Strike Deal

Suffolk Downs and Wonderland Greyhound Park have reached a partnership agreement allowing Suffolk to buy the dog track, and maybe help the owners land a casino gambling franchise.

Penn Shares Jump After Deal Collapse

Shares of Penn National Gaming Inc. rose July 7, following last week's news that two investment firms ended their planned $5.82 billion takeover of the casino and racetrack operator.

Court: Racing Should Get Casino Money

Illinois' richest riverboat casinos must pay part of their profits to horse owners and racetracks, the state Supreme Court ruled June 5.

KY Prosecutors: No Eight Belles Probe

State prosecutors in Jefferson County, Ky., said they can't investigate the death of the filly Eight Belles despite a request from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Coming Next Spring: The Sunland Derby

Sunland Park officials in Albuquerque announced May 29 that the track's premier race, formerly known as the WinStar Derby, will be renamed the Sunland Derby. It will carry an $800,000 purse with potential to reach $1 million.

Congress Wants Info on Breakdowns, Drugs

A congressional subcommittee has demanded information from state racing commissions about racehorse breakdowns, drug use, and breeding.

LA House OKs Local Vote on Racetrack

Iberville Parish, La., voters should be allowed to cast ballots on whether they want a new racetrack with slot machines, the Louisiana House voted May 21.

Mountaineer Workers Remain on Strike

About 200 union workers walked off the job at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort the weekend of March 29, and they remained on strike March 31.

Biovail Fined; Melnyk Charges Remain

Canadian drug maker Biovail Corp., which was formerly headed by prominent Thoroughbred owner-breeder Eugene Melnyk, agreed March 24 to pay a $10-million fine to resolve federal regulators' charges of civil accounting fraud and deceiving investors and analysts.

Jersey Assembly Approves Purse Subsidy

A plan to help New Jersey's struggling horse racing industry while protecting casinos from video gambling machines at racetracks has cleared a hurdle in the state legislature.

Filly at Charles Town Negative for Virus

A quarantine at Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia was lifted March 13 after officials determined a horse stabled there was not suffering from equine herpesvirus.

MEC Finances Have Maryland Concerned

The financial health of Magna Entertainment Corp. could become part of the debate about legalizing slot machines in Maryland, as supporters and detractors ready for a statewide referendum in November.

Racetrack Slots Plan Offered in Kentucky

With a contentious proposal to legalize casinos stalled in the House, a lawmaker is floating a compromise measure that would allow only slot machines and video poker at Kentucky racetracks.

Santos Settles Herald Lawsuit

Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos has settled his libel lawsuit against The Miami Herald over an article raising questions about his actions aboard 2003 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Funny Cide.

MTR Gaming Pleased with Table Games

MTR Gaming Group said Jan. 16 its Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort reported about $3 million in revenue from table games and poker since the full ramp-up of table-game operations in late December.

Regulators Approve Gemstar Purchase

Antitrust regulators cleared security-software maker Macrovision Corp.'s $2.8 billion purchase of television listings company Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc., a government agency recently announced.

Scientific Games Shares Tumble

Shares of Scientific Games Corp. tumbled to its lowest point in more than three years Jan. 16 as the lottery services supplier reeled from the loss of its third online contract within a month.

Merger of PA Racing Panels Planned

Gov. Ed Rendell plans to merge the agencies that regulate horse racing in Pennsylvania.

Kentucky Tracks Discuss Casinos

Representatives from Kentucky's Thoroughbred racetracks pitched legalized casino gambling to a state legislative panel Jan. 9, and suggested they haven't decided whether gambling halls would be located at tracks.

Curlin Interest May Be Auctioned

More than 400 people want to cash in on Curlin in a move that could put partial ownership of the leading Horse of the Year candidate on the sheriff's auction block.

Shareholders OK Penn National Deal

Penn National Gaming Inc., which operates casinos and racetracks, said Dec. 12 its shareholders overwhelmingly approved its $6.1-billion takeover by two investment companies.

Parent Company of TVG Sold

Macrovision Corp., which develops technology to prevent unauthorized copying and viewing of video, music and other content, said Dec. 7 it will buy the parent company of TVG, Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc,. for $2.8 billion in cash and stock.

Maryland Voters to Decide on Slots

The Maryland legislature has approved a measure for a November 2008 referendum on slot machines, and also voted for a package that raises taxes in the state by $1.3 billion.

Maryland House Wrangling on Slots

The Maryland House of Delegates put off voting on whether the state should have a referendum on slot-machine gambling after a day of changes in the proposal Nov. 15. The issue is on the agenda when the House reconvenes Nov. 16.

Maryland Governor Offers Plan for 15,000 Slot Machines

The legislative race for slot machines in Maryland hit fever pitch Nov. 2 with rallies in the state capital.

Plan Calls for NYRA to Surrender Ownership Claim

The New York Racing Association has filed a Chapter 11 plan in which it plans to surrender a claim of ownership to Thoroughbred tracks in exchange for the right to run the facilities for the next 30 years.

Judge Dismisses Choctaw Lawsuit Over Churchill Downs Signal

A federal judge has dismissed a case involving a dispute between a company owned by an American Indian tribe and a Kentucky horsemen's group over simulcast signals from Churchill Downs.

Driver Who Severed Arm of Lava Man's Groom Gets 5 Years

The drunken driver who caused a crash that severed the arm of a groom for Lava Man, the richest claiming horse in Thoroughbred racing history, was sentenced Oct. 4 to five years in state prison.

New Jersey Reassigns Horseracing Detectives

With the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Monmouth Park only a month away, the New Jersey State Police has reassigned four detectives that have made up its "horse racing investigative unit" and replaced them with two retired detectives.

Restrictive Florida Simulcast Law Ruled Unconstitutional

A state law that severely limited the ability of South Florida horse racing tracks to simulcast events from other pari-mutuel facilities is unconstitutional because of the way it was adopted, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Sept. 6.

Michigan May Listen to Slots Overtures Again

Another fight is brewing over whether Michigan's racetracks should be allowed to add casino-style gambling.

Bond Hearing Delayed for Jailed Curlin Owners

Three lawyers jailed while awaiting trial on charges of bilking clients of millions of dollars in a diet drug settlement will have to wait a little longer to see if they'll be freed.

Incarcerated Curlin Owners Will Argue for Release

Three lawyers jailed while awaiting trial on charges of bilking clients of millions of dollars in a diet drug settlement will get a chance to argue for their freedom while awaiting trial.

MTR Gaming Reports Second-Quarter Loss

MTR Gaming Group Inc. reported Aug. 9 it swung to a loss in the second quarter due to costs related to the launch of its new slots parlor at Presque Isle Downs racetrack in Pennsylvania.