Thursday, April 9, 2009

MARYLAND SENATE AND HOUSE SIDE WITH HORSEMEN TO TAKE DOLLARS FROM BREEDERS

According to the Associated Press, the Maryland Senate has approved legislation to increase the amount of slot machine money to be allocated to horse racing purses.

The Senate also approved a similar House bill on Tuesday. The House bill now goes to Gov. Martin O'Malley.

Under Maryland law, up to $100 million in slot machine proceeds will be dedicated to horse racing, once slots become operational.

The legislation would provide more money for horse racing purses -- the money horse owners get if their horses win. The amount would rise from 85 percent to 89 percent. The increase would be a loss for money to the horse breeding industry, which would drop from 15 percent to 11 percent.

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