Edited press release
People who claim Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses at any licensed racetrack in Louisiana are no longer required to pay a state sales tax under a new law, the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has announced.
“With the passage of this bill, Louisiana goes from being the highest-taxing state on horses in the country to becoming one of the top 10 best states in which to claim a horse,” Louisiana HBPA president Sean Alfortish said.
Alfortish said elimination of the sales tax was a goal of his administration along with creation of a workers’ compensation program for the horse industry. “Both of these promises we believe will further stimulate the strength of our industry by attracting new owners and by making ownership of horses more profitable,” he said.
Alfortish said the horsemen’s group continues to work to eliminate a tax on the claiming of horses charged by the parishes in which the state's four racetracks are located.