Legislation Opens Gate For Off-Track Wagering

It doesn’t have everything that backers of Playfair Race Course want (in fact Muckleshoot Indian tribal leaders are calling it discriminatory), but Washington’s new simulcast wagering law could be fundamental to rebuilding the state’s sagging horse racing industry.

Washington Gov. Gary Locke signed Senate Bill 5762 into law Saturday.

Washington is the last state with a thoroughbred racing industry to approve full-card simulcast wagering.

The legislation will, with limitations, allow track officials in Washington to bring in full programs from major tracks outside the state.

A track operating an on-site race meet - Emerald Downs for now - can add one out-of-state track’s entire program each day. On days when the live track is dark, two full cards can be offered.

Before Saturday, Washington state tracks could bring in only selected events, one or two races per day. Now, all eight, nine or 10 races a day from an out-of-state track can be offered.

And money bet in Washington on, say, Hollywood Park will be plugged into the Hollywood Park betting pool. Such co-mingling was not allowed in Washington prior to Saturday. Previously, Washington money was kept in a smaller in-state pool.

Tracks that are dark - such as Playfair is now - can bring in as many off-tracks signals as can be arranged.

Playfair director of racing Ted Martin will look at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Emerald Downs in Auburn and the major tracks in California and Florida, among other possibilities.

Martin had projected that Playfair could become an operational off-track site by the end of the month. Saturday, he revised his estimate to early to mid-May.

Last month, Playfair again refused to open as a simulcast site for Emerald Downs over contractual differences with the Auburn track.

That changed Saturday.

“The way the legislation is written, it will be more beneficial for them (Playfair) than to us to take our races,” said Emerald Downs general manager Marie Connelly.

Although Martin has added his voice to those of tribal leaders and patrons of off-track betting sites who object to exclusions in the law, he sees potential good.

Under the law, off-track betting sites (OTBs) in Washington cannot carry full cards from out of state. The other 20 states that have full-card legislation allow out-of-state signals into OTB outlets. The Muckleshoots see that as a direct hit on their OTB operation inside their casino in Auburn.

The tribe has maintained interest in the Spokane track despite having its application for a license to operate it turned down by the state racing commission.

Tribal leaders outlined their objections in a letter to Locke dated April 18. Signed by John Daniels Jr., Muckleshoot Tribal Chair, the point is made that, “Playfair would already be out of business if it weren’t for the Muckleshoot tribe.”

Connelly said implementing the law will be the subject of a public meeting in front of the racing commission a week from Tuesday.

“We’re pleased,” she said, citing the “overwhelming support of the Legislature.”

Problems continue to crop up, however. Emerald Downs will ask the commission to cancel racing this Wednesday, because of a shortage of competitive horses as many of Washington’s leading horse people have moved to California.

With the opportunity to play a major California track, as well as Emerald Downs, bettors are expected to show renewed interest in the sport in the Puget Sound region.

“The effect this has had on betting handle and eventually horsemen’s purses in every state is positive,” Connelly said.

The effect may be different in the Inland Northwest. Unlike the Seattle area, Inland Northwest horse players have enjoyed the advantages of full-card simulcasting 20 miles away at Greyhound Park in Post Falls.

Greyhound Park will feel the impact when Playfair sets up shop as an off-track site, GM Don Gross said.

“It’s the convenience (of Playfair) for the Spokane horse player that could hurt us most,” he said. “If they have the same product, it’s a matter of where you want to go. We just hope we can put on a better show.”

Greyhound Park carries full cards from most of the country’s major tracks, plus off-track betting on dog racing.

“I know the state (Washington) has projected $80,000 a day in simulcasting business (at Playfair),” Gross said, “but I just don’t see that happening. We’re doing close to $50,000 (daily). We’re doing better than last year, even with Playfair running a live meet (from January through March).

“I think that’s real good, but if there are any more big bettors around here, I don’t know where they’re hiding. I see us (Playfair and Greyhound) splitting the (horse-racing) dollars that are out there.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo