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Bill would allow simulcast betting at Running Aces
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Friday, 22 February 2008
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T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter
Running Aces Harness Track in Columbus will be allowed to simulcast thoroughbred horse racing under legislation afoot in the Minnesota State Legislature. A Senate subcommittee on Wednesday, Feb. 20 approved for full-committee consideration of a bill by Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, that would allow for the harness track to expand its simulcasting menu.
Currently under state law, the harness track can only simulcast harness racing.
The proposed legislation would allow the harness track to enter into an agreement with Canterbury Park to share simulcasting revenues.
“This is an equity scenario,” said Jeffrey Halpern, co-founder to Southwest Casino Corporation and Vice President of Government Affairs.
The corporation owns the harness track located just west of I-35 and south of CR-23 in Columbus.
Halpern indicated that the inclusion of thoroughbred racing could triple simulcast revenues for the harness track.
The track, which is scheduled to open on April 11, will open a card club later this summer.
Reaction
Questioned by Sen. Jim Vickerman, DFL-Tracy, whether the menu of harness track racing, the card club and expanded simulcasting would be all Southwest Casino Corporation would ask for, Halpern indicated that it was. “That is correct,” he said.
The legislation received backing from City of Columbus officials.
“I can’t impress on upon you how much the track is anticipated by the people in the area,” said Columbus Mayor Mel Mettler.
Don Steinke, of Columbus, a member of a citizen’s coalition opposed to the track, questioned the financial viability of it.
“We fail to see any reason to expand gambling in Minnesota,” he said.
But the subcommittee voted to move Rest’s legislation onto the full State and Local Government Operation and Oversight Committee agenda.
Coauthors on Rest’s bill include Sen. Debbie Johnson, R-Ham Lake, and Sen. Don Betzold, DFL-Fridley.
The bill has also gained support from District 52 State Sen. Ray Vandeveer, R-Forest Lake, who represents Columbus.
Vandeveer said he views the simulcasting bill as a way to even the field between Canterbury Park and Running Aces Harness Track.
“It is expanding betting at the (harness) track,” Vandeveer said.
If the additional simulcasting revenue goes to enriching the purses at the harness track, that’s good, he opined.
But Vandeveer said he would also like some part of the money set aside to assist the community, perhaps going to a food self, he suggested.
The companion bill in the House was introduced last week and has not yet had a hearing.
It also has bipartisan support, Rep. Denise Dittrich, DFL-Champlin, Rep. Kathy Tingelstad, R-Andover, Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, among the bill coauthors.
Rest insists if any attempt is made at adding other gambling legislation to her bill she will withdraw it.
Brian McClung, the press secretary for Gov. Tim Pawlenty, said the administration has not yet reviewed the legislation.
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