A bill to add pari-mutuel betting machines to seven California horse-racing tracks – pegged as vital to their survival - has one community group with a track-in-waiting wary that it will eventually lead to slot machines, and eventually, gambling problems.

Led by Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, the bill (if approved by state legislators) would allow 1,850 video gambling machines to be installed at each of the tracks. Yee stated in a press release that it would allow the facilities to install machines equipped for pari-mutuel wagering on any of 25,000 historical races via “Instant Horseracing�, spanning 30-years in total. Original handicapping information would be available for would-be wagerers (sans the real horse names) whereupon – after placing their bet – they would then be able to watch the original race on the machine. Of note, the press release states the gambler would not be able to decipher from the video what race they watching, or when (or where) it took place.

“We need to reinvigorate the horse racing industry in California; this is a vital agri-business and a part of our state’s rich history that should be preserved,â€? stated Yee, according to the Daily Democrat.

Magna Entertainment Corporation, who own both the Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields tracks that would benefit from such a bill’s passing, are also the company looking to build a new 260-acre horse racetrack and training center in the city of Dixon. It is from here where the opposition to the bill lies in the form of the Dixon Citizens for Quality Growth. Not only do they oppose the proposed track, but are suspicious that the passing of such a bill would eventually lead to casino-type slot machines in the new facility, leading to problem gambling within their currently gambling-free community. The group expressed their concerns at a spring City Council meeting, with one member pointing out that recent studies cite horse racing attendance, purses and wagering all being on the decline. In quoting a report, Gail Preston said, “the efforts by the horseracing industry and its allies to obtain additional revenue for purses from slot machines will not cease until either they are successful or the horse racing industry in California goes out of business.�

However, those associated with the proposed Dixon Downs project (to feature approximately 1.2 million square feet of retail, commercial, entertainment and office space – plus hotel and conference center) are stressing that the bill and the new facility are not interrelated. “The bill is very specific to only include those (seven) tracks,” said project manager John O’Farrell. “Most of the older tracks add the machines because they don’t have a mixed-use facility and are struggling. Dixon Downs will be a destination spot that will offer a variety of options and that alone means the racetrack in Dixon will be more successful.â€?

Yee reiterated this himself in the release, stating, “Our plan goes a different route by saving horse racing with what the industry does best - racing horses. This does not expand gaming, but only provides pari-mutuel wagering on yesterday’s races today.â€?

The Dixon Downs proposal currently faces a final environmental review from the Planning Commission and City Council. Prior to voting, the city will then complete a development agreement with Magna as well as decide how to gauge citizen’s opinions on the matter. As for bill AB2409, a similar version of which was recently turned-down by the Wyoming Supreme Court, it received its first hearing this past week in the Senate Government Organization Committee.

posted by Rex Harris