SPONSOR:	Rep. Viola & Sen. Ennis
	Sen. Poore

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 147th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 197

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HORSE RACING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1.Amend §10148(1), Title 3 of the Delaware Code by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by struck through language, as follows:

§10148.Restrictions on licensee acting as video lottery agent.

During any calendar year in which a licensee under this chapter has also been licensed by the Director of the State Lottery Office to maintain video lottery machines within the confines of a racetrack licensed under this chapter, the following rules shall apply:

(1) As to each racetrack so licensed by the Director of the State Lottery Office, the licensee shall conduct live racing operations on at least 100 days, or such fewer number of days to which the licensee and the organization that represents the majority of owners and trainers racing at the licensee's racetrack agree in writing on or before December 15 before the following year's racing calendar and dates will be publicly announced. In December of each year, the licensee will submit to the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission proposed racing days for the following year. Each licensee shall also employ during the live racing operations a minimum of 100 additional employees than the average daily number employed during the most recent racing meet held prior to July 16, 1994.The licensee's continued failure to substantially comply with this requirement after notice from the Director shall constitute grounds for revocation or suspension of the video lottery agent's license.

Section 2.This Act shall take effect immediately upon its enactment into law.

SYNOPSIS

In order to maintain racing purses that are competitive with other racetracks in the mid-Atlantic region, a racetrack licensed to conduct gaming operations needs the flexibility to reduce the number of racing days.This Act would permit a racetrack licensee to reduce the number of racing days below the statutorily required 100 days if the organization that represents the horsemen that race at the track agrees to the reduction in writing.Delaware Racing Association, which owns and operates Delaware Park, and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association recently entered a written agreement providing for 81 days of live racing. This House Bill is intended to correct HB 116 as amended by SA1, by removing the requirement that the number of racing days on or before December 15 and before the racing calendar and dates are publicly announced.