Ohio State Racing Commission Meeting

John Izzo attended the Ohio State Racing Commission meeting on Thursday, October 24.  River Downs, in Cincinnati, will now be known as Belterra Park.  Kevin Kaufman, General Manager of Belterra Park, gave a Power Point presentation on how nice Belterra Park will look when completed.  They thanked everyone for their help for making the new track a safe place, including Jeff Johnston from the Jockeys’ Guild.  

Penn National addressed the commissioners and stated they will proceed with building 760 stalls at the Mahoning Valley Race Course.  Chairman Schmitz was upset that there are not more stalls, and he and the other commissioners understood that there would be more.  River Downs and Thistledown each have in excess of 1000 stalls.  The Chairman does not think this should be a money issue.  He wants to have a phone conversation with folks higher up the ladder than Mark Lowe to discuss this.  Thistledown was approved for 122 live race days in 2014, and Dayton Raceway was approved for 56.  Days for the remaining five tracks will be discussed at upcoming meetings. 

The Commission is beginning the rule-making process with amending two existing rules.  The first will require Ohio-registered broodmares to be in the state no later than August 15^th of the year of foaling.  The other rule change will allow the Commission more flexibility in deciding the proper number of living quarters at each track.  The Commission distributed another $2.1 million of casino tax money to breeding programs, purses, expenses at the race tracks, and the Commission’s operating fund.  Total distributions in 2013 was in excess of $9 million.  The next distribution is expected in January.

Chairman Schmitz addressed the difference that the USTA has with the RMTC and emphasized his belief that there is a difference between Standardbred horses and Thoroughbred horses.  He had Joe Crugnale state that the lab will be ready to conduct post race drawn blood samples for TCO2 beginning 1/1/14.  During public comments, a member of the Quarter Horse Racing Association briefly addressed the Commission about quarter horse racing.  A Standardbred horseman addressed the Commission about the condition of fairgrounds during fair racing.  The next Commission meeting will be November 21, 2013, at 10:00 am.  

Ohio Thoroughbred Racing Advisory Committee Meeting

John Izzo attended the Ohio Thoroughbred Racing Advisory Committee Meeting on October 23, 2013.  The Committee wants to change the rules to require mares in foal to be in Ohio no later than October 15^th before it foals; the Committee is in favor of this rule change.  

The Committee discussed changes to Race Rules and Conditions for stakes races, including gate cards, scratch times, and tattoos.  There will be further discussion about this at the next meeting.  

The Chairman of the Racing Commission discussed having the Best of Ohio at Riverdowns in 2014.  There were concerns about whether the purse pool at Riverdowns could handle these races, so no decision was made.  

A proposed budget was presented to the Committee by Greg Veit.  No vote was taken.  Mr. Veit also presented the Committee with the number of notifications he has received this year, the number of foals registered this year, the number of new broodmare registrations received this year, and the number of new and renewed stallions for this year.

Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board Meeting on October 9, 2013

John Izzo attended the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board Meeting on October 9, 2013.  The Board was busy with disciplinary actions; it approved six Settlement Agreements and issued four Notices of Opportunity for Hearing.  The Board continued to talk about possible rule changes.  

Last month, Dr. Salinger stated the reason for the time and frequency limitations on vaccination clinics in the draft rule was to limit bad practitioners from practicing bad veterinary medicine.  Towards the end of the October Meeting, the Board decided it should proceed without the time and frequency limitations in the vaccination clinic draft rule.

Casino Control Commission Meeting on October 16, 2013

John Izzo attended the Casino Control Commission Meeting on October 16, 2013.  Standard business was before the Commission, including consideration of licensure for a gaming related vendor and key employees.  The Commission also considered amendments to internal controls for all four casinos.  Three final orders were issued, and all three licensees had their licenses revoked.  Dan Harkenrider of ESPN Cleveland addressed the Commission regarding poker and poker tournaments.