Horse industry lobbies for sports betting at tracks
The Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey urged a state Senate committee to allow sports betting at the state's racetracks as well asAtlantic City casinos if a federal ban on that betting is ever overturned.

The Senate Committee onWagering and Tourism took testimony on May 19 for discussion purposes only on legislation to authorize professional sports wagering at casinos and racetracks and a resolution to urge the U.S. Congress to lift the current federal ban on sports wagering. No votes were taken, but senators on the committee indicated their strong support for the idea, according to the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ).

"Racetracks, like casinos, are highly regulated, standalone locations currently providing secure wagering operations," Leon Zimmerman, lobbyist for the SBOANJ, told the committee.

Zimmerman was testifying on behalf of the statewide association that represents thousands of people involved in all aspects of the standardbred breeding and racing industry in New Jersey - breeders, horse and farm owners, trainers, drivers and caretakers of harness horses that race at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford and Freehold Raceway in Freehold.

He noted that the horse industry inNewJersey has been in decline since the competition of casinos in Atlantic City, and that surrounding states have put slot machines or video lottery terminals at their racetracks to boost purses that will eventually outpace New Jersey's track purses.

Under an agreement awaiting approval by all parties, the Atlantic City casinos would supplement racetrack purses by $30 million a year for three years in lieu of video lottery terminals (VLTs) at the tracks.

"The horse racing industry will be better equipped to survive if it has another form of wagering, such as on sports, available under its roof," Zimmerman said, noting that revenues produced through sports betting at racetracks would benefit the state, racetracks and purses for horsemen competing at these racing facilities.

Supporters of the proposal envision a legal fight to overturn the ban,which applies to 46 states. Only Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana are permitted to have sports wagering because of a grandfather clause in the ban.

Arepresentative fromtheNational Football League voiced opposition to the professional sports wagering legislation.