Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer, who sponsored the legislation that resulted in Kentucky's Breeders' Incentive Fund, has inquired about another method of garnering funds for the state's Thoroughbred industry.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Horsemen from all parts of Colorado rallied at the state capitol Jan. 20 to support efforts by the horse industry to pass legislation designed to revitalize the economics of the industry in Colorado through advance deposit wagering and Instant Racing.
Friday, January 23, 2009
An Ohio lawmaker whose district includes River Downs said Nov. 26 he plans to introduce legislation in 2009 for casino-style gaming that would support the horse racing and breeding in the state.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A study released by Ohio State Racing Commission offers a short-term action plan and a long-term strategy for the struggling horseracing industry in the Buckeye State, but one racetrack official said the quickest fix lies with the pen of Gov. Ted Strickland.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Magna Entertainment Corp. said it is "considering all of its legal options" after the Oregon Racing Commission rejected its request to allow installation of Instant Racing gaming terminals at Portland Meadows April 25.
Friday, April 25, 2008
A California state senator says he expects to see tribal casinos develop an ownership stake in racetracks, leading to the potential for wagering devices such as Instant Racing or slot machines at racing facilities.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Oaklawn Park officials have no immediate plans to expand the racetrack's gambling-machine offerings, but they said a Sept. 27 ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court to uphold a law that permitted electronic gaming devices at the track is a major step forward.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Oregon Racing Commission has approved the 2007-08 Portland Meadows race meet application submitted by MEC Oregon Racing.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Magna Entertainment Corp. and two Oregon horsemen groups have agreed to an abbreviated 60-day meet to begin this fall at Portland Meadows.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
A bid by Ohio racetracks to win approval for Instant Racing machines, which resemble video lottery terminals but are pari-mutuel in nature, is said to still have some life left despite an announcement by Gov. Ted Strickland that he would veto the measure.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said June 12 he would veto any legislation allowing video gambling machines at Ohio racetracks.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Legislation to authorize Instant Racing machines at Ohio's seven racetracks passed the state Senate May 23 and is headed to the House of Representatives.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Legislation to authorize Instant Racing machines has been introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Magna Entertainment Corp. has adopted "development covenants" in an attempt to allay the fears of opponents in regard to its plans to build Dixon Downs racetrack in Northern California.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Instant Racing bill rejected by Virginia House. Conference committee could take up but session ends Feb. 24.
Friday, February 23, 2007
A bill that would allow Instant Racing as a means of funding for transportation and purses in Virginia is on the also-eligible's list hoping to make the field. Members of the Virginia House Committee on General Laws tabled the bill by voice vote Feb. 15. The bill could be brought back up in committee prior to Feb. 20. Virginia's General Assembly session ends Feb 24.
Friday, February 16, 2007
After gaining approval 23-14 by the Virginia Senate, an Instant Racing bill returns to the Virginia House where a similar bill failed to get out of committee several weeks ago.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
A Virginia Senate committee has approved legislation that would authorize Instant Racing machines at Colonial Downs and off-track betting parlors.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
A Virginia House of Delegates committee is scheduled to tackle legislation to authorize Instant Racing at a Jan. 30 hearing.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Old races may provide new funds to maintain Virginia roads should lawmakers pass a bill that has been re-introduced in the General Assembly. A similar bill that had been submitted during the General Assembly's special transportation session last September was passed over.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
The first payments of revenue from the introduction of electronic games of skill to the wagering menu at Oaklawn Park were made to representatives of local and state government at the track Dec. 18.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Portland Meadows plans to install Instant Racing machines during its current 2006-07 meet under a plan recently approved by the Oregon Racing Commission.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
A proposed bill on "Instant Racing" could make an instant impact on purse account and potholes in Virginia.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Oaklawn Park projects record daily average purses of $290,000 for its 2007 meet, up from $275,000 a day this year because of increased revenue from Instant Racing.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Expansion of gambling at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., moved one step closer to reality after the Arkansas State Racing Commission approved rules and regulations for electronic games of skill at its Aug. 1 meeting in Little Rock.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
The California horseracing industry has thrown its weight behind "Instant Racing" video games in the drive to offset declining economic fortunes, but a representative of the state's major casino tribes say it's nothing more than a smokescreen to break the Indians' monopoly and give the tracks slot machines.
Friday, June 23, 2006
A judge has dismissed a complaint against installation of "electronic games of skill" at Oaklawn Park, which was approved for the machines in a November 2005 ballot initiative.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Highlighted by a record 72,464 on hand for Lawyer Ron's victory in the closing-day Arkansas Derby (gr. II), the 2006 meet at Oaklawn Park posted record wagering during its 53-day meet. The meet was originally scheduled for 56 days, but racing was canceled on three days of the Presidents' Day holiday weekend due to adverse weather conditions.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Oaklawn Park raised overnight purses $700 per race effective March 1 because of an increase in Instant Racing revenue and overall handle.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
A lawsuit filed Tuesday seeks to overturn local voters' approval to allow additional electronic games of skill at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Instant Racing--pari-mutuel wagering machines that closely resemble video lottery terminals--had its first $1-million day in handle Feb. 21 at Oaklawn Park. Instant Racing, a product of RaceTech, first began operating at the Hot Springs, Ark., racetrack in 2000.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
RaceTech, the company behind Instant Racing, expects to top the $100-million mark in total handle sometime this year. Instant Racing--basically pari-mutuel video lottery terminals--went online early in 2000 at Oaklawn Park and Southland Greyhound Park in Arkansas.
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Legislation to authorize wagering hubs in Kentucky was introduced in the state Senate in early March and is moving through the legislative process as an amendment to a bill that would permit artificially inseminated horses to race in Kentucky. A hub measure was introduced in 2002 but it failed to garner support.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Instant Racing, which combines pari-mutuel wagering with video gaming technology, had its best month ever at Oaklawn Park when patrons poured $5.82 million through the machines in February.
Monday, March 08, 2004
Instant Racing, a pari-mutuel gaming system currently available at wagering outlets in Arkansas and Wyoming, will be expanded in those two states early this year.
Friday, February 20, 2004
In a surprise move in Oregon, Magna Entertainment Corp. has removed the Instant Racing machines that were installed earlier this year at its two tracks, Portland Meadows and Multnomah Greyhound Park.
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Less than a week after the National Thoroughbred Racing Association released a report that recommended upgrades in wagering technology and a streamlining of tote systems in the United States, Magna Entertainment Corp. acquired a 30% equity and voting interest in AmTote International for $3.82 million.
Friday, August 22, 2003
Instant Racing, launched in Arkansas three years ago, was approved for use at pari-mutuel facilities by the Wyoming Racing Commission July 11. The devices, which resemble video lottery terminals but are linked to pari-mutuel pools, will first be installed at an off-track betting parlor operated by Wyoming Downs.
Monday, July 14, 2003
Instant Racing, a pari-mutuel video lottery game currently offered at racetracks in Arkansas, has been approved by the Oregon Racing Commission for use at the state's racetracks. Oregon is the second state to approve the devices.
Friday, April 25, 2003
Oaklawn Park has raised purses $1,000 across the board in all races except stakes events.
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
Legislation to authorize electronic games of skill at Arkansas racetracks has been introduced by state lawmakers.
Tuesday, March 04, 2003
Eric Nelson wants to return Playfair Race Course near Spokane, Wash., to its "glory days." On Oct. 31 the Washington Horse Racing Commission gave Nelson the go-ahead to start that process by granting him an operating license.
Wednesday, November 06, 2002
Eric Nelson, the new operator of Playfair race course near Spokane, Wash., is considering racing options for Yakima Meadows, a track about 200 miles southwest of Spokane.
Wednesday, June 12, 2002
Former AmTote president Ted Mudge began working at Magna Entertainment this week.
Friday, May 31, 2002
As Oaklawn Park prepares to enter the heart of its winter-spring season, the Hot Springs, Ark., racetrack announced a third purse increase, effective March 16.
Thursday, March 14, 2002
Good weather and higher handles are driving up purses at Oaklawn Park and Turfway Park. Oaklawn will increase purses by $1,000 per race starting Saturday, while Turfway Park will increase purses 7% beginning with Friday's card. Both purse increases exclude stakes races.
Friday, February 22, 2002
Oaklawn Park raises the curtain on its 54-day meet Friday in the heart of Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. The oval first saw racing in 1905.
Friday, January 25, 2002
It has taken almost four years, but "Instant Racing" machines have become an overnight sensation at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. In November, handle generated by the machines topped $1.2 million.
Tuesday, December 11, 2001
The principle owners of "Instant Racing" are ready to aggressively market their product to racetracks in other states and countries now that a deadline that challenged the legality of the game in Arkansas has passed.
Wednesday, November 01, 2000
An Arkansas judge today dismissed a lawsuit aimed at shutting down an electronic racing game offered at Oaklawn Park.
Friday, August 25, 2000
