Off-track betting would be authorized in Idaho, under legislation introduced in the House State Affairs by a divided vote this morning. As Rep. Carlos Bilbao, R-Emmett, came to the microphone to propose his bill this morning, a horse race trumpet fanfare sounded, drawing a laugh from the committee. The bill would authorize a live horse race track to get a special license from the Idaho State Racing Commission, if local county commissioners approve, to offer betting on simulcasts of races that take place elsewhere; there could only be one such license per county, but it could be transferred from one county to another. Proceeds would go to race purses for live horse racing in the state, with excess proceeds beyond $14 million a year going to the Promise Scholarship fund and to youth programs of the Idaho Horse Board. The committee's vote today clears the way for a full hearing on the bill.