Racing Commission Meeting

John Izzo attended the Ohio State Racing Commission Meeting on September 30, 2014.  No days were approved for live racing in 2015.  At this time, it looks like Dayton will race 75 days, Miami Valley will race 89 days, Northfield Park will race 214 days, Scioto Downs will race 100 days, Belterra will race 93 days, Mahoning Valley will race 100 days, and Thistledown will race 100 days.  

The Chairman talked about the Best of Ohio and the five races that will go with purses of $150,000 each.  The Chairman also talked about the nine Standardbred races that went this past Saturday at Scioto Downs, each with $200,000 purses.  Neither Northfield Park nor Betlerra have reached agreements with their respective horsemen’s groups as to VLT revenue.  Although agreements were to be in place no later than six months after the VLT’s began at their racetracks, the Commission has continued to give Northfield Park additional time to work with the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association.  

The next Commission meeting will be held on October 23, 2014.

Veterinary Medical Licensing Board Update

John Izzo attended the September 17, 2014, monthly meeting for the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board.  The Board is still one member short, one of the veterinarian appointments.  Dr. Kidd, Dr. Kolb, and Dr. Redman continue to be active in the AAVSB.  Jack Advent from the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association addressed the Board with his concerns about a new Ohio Department of Health rule regarding radiographs.  There was a healthy discussion about an RVT applicant with a criminal history, who received her certificate of registration under a 4-1 vote.  The Board reviewed new complaints and responses received to old complaints.  In one case, the Board discussed its ability to take an action against a veterinarian who did not know that his staff provided unnecessary medication to a patient.  In this case, the Board decided not to take any disciplinary action because of the veterinarian’s lack of knowledge.