The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Cathy Wells.
DIGEST
SB 135 Original 2015 Regular Session Peacock
Present law, relative to live horse racing, prohibits an association from conducting offtrack wagering
in Louisiana unless it conducts live horse racing for at least 130 racing days within each 52-week
period.
Present law further provides that the required minimum racing days shall be not less than 84
thoroughbred horse racing days conducted during 21 consecutive weeks and not less than 46 quarter
horse racing days conducted during 12 consecutive weeks. At any facility where the purse revenue
derived from slot machines is limited by law to a certain expressly stated number of slot machines,
then the facility shall, over a 52-week period, maintain at least 80 thoroughbred horse racing days
conducted during 20 consecutive weeks and at least 10 quarter horse racing days conducted during
three consecutive weeks.
Proposed law provides that notwithstanding any provision of present law to the contrary, eligible
facilities located in Bossier Parish are required to conduct live horse racing for not less than 65
racing days. Proposed law requires the association to determine, with approval of the commission,
the actual number of racing days for thoroughbred and quarter horses to be conducted within the
sixty-five racing days.
Present law provides for exceptions to mandatory racing days for natural disasters, acts of God, force
majeure, a catastrophe, or other such occurrence over which the association has no control.
Proposed law retains present law exceptions to mandatory racing days.
Present law provides if the pari-mutual wagering facility and related offtrack betting facility are sold,
the purchaser is required to conduct the minimum number of live racing days as a condition of
operating the offtrack betting (OTB) facility.
Proposed law retains prior law relative to sale of the facility.
Effective August 1, 2015.
(Adds R.S. 4:214.1(C))