State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

HB 2576: racing; handle; breeders' award fund

NOW: breeders' award fund; racing; handle

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Cook, LD 8

BILL STATUS: Senate Engrossed

3rd Read: 30-0-0

 

 

Overview

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteRequires the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADOG) to allocate 1% of the handle to the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders Association (ATBA).

History

ADOG, with direction from the Arizona Racing Commission, regulates and supervises all commercial horse racing meetings, as well as authorized pari-mutuel wagering on races that occur both inside and outside of Arizona (A.R.S. § 5-104).

Pari-mutuel wagering is the betting system that the racing industry uses to distribute earnings among the winning patrons from the total amount wagered, minus the amount withheld under state law. A handle is the term used by the racing industry to describe the total amount of money contributed by all pari-mutuel pools (A.R.S. § 5-101).

ATBA was established in 1958 for the purpose of breeding race horses in Arizona (atba.net). The Retired Racehorse Adoption Fund provides financial assistance to nonprofit organizations to promote the adoption of retired racehorses (A.R.S. § 5-113).

According to the Arizona Department of Gaming Division of Racing, the total handle in 2018 was $148,874,815.

Provisions

1.       Requires ADOG to allocate 1% of the handle to ATBA to provide data, statistics and other information. (Sec. 1)

2.       Requires ATBA to establish the Arizona Horse Breeders' Fund for these monies. (Sec. 1)

3.       Requires ATBA to contribute a portion of these monies to the Retired Racehorse Adoption Fund. (Sec. 1)

4.       Requires ATBA to add monies to horse racing purses and provide awards for Arizona-bred horses that finish first, second or third place in races. (Sec. 1)

5.       Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

Senate Amendments

·         Specifies that the 1% handle allocation applies only to in-state handle monies.

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·         Fifty-fourth Legislature                       HB 2576

·         First Regular Session                            Version 4: Senate Engrossed

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