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2023 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 180
BY SENATOR BOUIE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
HORSE RACING. Provides for minimum live horse racing dates. (8/1/23)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 4:214.1, relative to horse racing; to provide for minimum live
3 horse racing dates; and to provide for related matters.
4 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
5 Section 1. R.S. 4:214.1 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
6 ยง214.1. Minimum live racing dates; offtrack and other authorized wagering
7 A. An association shall not be licensed to conduct offtrack or other
8 authorized wagering in the state unless it conducts live horse racing for not less than
9 one hundred thirty one hundred twenty-two racing days within each fifty-two week
10 period at the facility designated in its license. Of the required one hundred thirty one
11 hundred twenty-two racing days, not less than eighty-four seventy-six days shall
12 be thoroughbred horse racing days conducted during twenty-one consecutive weeks
13 and not less than forty-six days shall be quarter horse racing days conducted during
14 twelve consecutive weeks. The foregoing minimum racing requirements are
15 mandatory unless the association is prevented from live racing as a result of a natural
16 disaster, an act of God, force majeure, a catastrophe, or such other occurrence over
17 which the association has no control. When a pari-mutuel wagering facility and a
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 180
SLS 23RS-356 ORIGINAL
1 related offtrack betting facility are sold, the purchaser shall conduct the minimum
2 number of live racing days, including the minimum quarter horse racing days,
3 required by this Section as a condition of operating the offtrack betting facility.
4 B. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, at any facility
5 subject to the provisions of R.S. 27:372.1(A), the facility shall maintain a minimum
6 of eighty seventy-six thoroughbred horse racing days conducted during twenty
7 consecutive weeks and not less than fifteen days of quarter horse racing conducted
8 during five consecutive weeks. The racing days provided for in this Subsection shall
9 be conducted within a fifty-two week period. The foregoing minimum racing
10 requirements are mandatory unless the association is prevented from live racing as
11 a result of a natural disaster, an act of God, force majeure, a catastrophe, or such
12 other occurrence over which the association has no control. When a pari-mutuel
13 wagering facility and a related offtrack betting facility are sold, the purchaser shall
14 conduct the minimum number of live racing days, including the minimum quarter
15 horse racing days, required by this Section as a condition of operating the offtrack
16 betting facility.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
SB 180 Original 2023 Regular Session Bouie
Present law prohibits an association from being licensed to conduct offtrack or other
authorized wagering unless it conducts live horse racing for not less than 130 racing days
within each 52 week period at the facility (race track) designated in its license.
Present law requires that of the required 130 racing days, not less than 84 days be
thoroughbred horse racing days conducted during 21 consecutive weeks and not less than
46 days be quarter horse racing days conducted during 12 consecutive weeks.
Proposed law reduces the minimum race season from 130 to 122 days and the minimum race
days for thoroughbreds from 84 to 76.
Present law prohibits the eligible facility (race track) located in Orleans Parish from being
licensed to conduct offtrack or other authorized wagering, including slot machines, unless
it conducts live horse racing for a minimum of 80 thoroughbred horse racing days conducted
during 20 consecutive weeks and not less than 15 days of quarter horse racing conducted
during five consecutive weeks.
Proposed law reduces the minimum race days for thoroughbreds from 80 to 76.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 180
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Present law provides that the minimum racing requirements are mandatory unless the
association (race track) is prevented from live racing as a result of a natural disaster, an act
of God, force majeure, a catastrophe, or such other occurrence over which the association
has no control.
Present law provides that when a pari-mutuel wagering facility (race track) and a related
offtrack betting facility are sold, the purchaser is required to conduct the minimum number
of live racing days, including the minimum quarter horse racing days, required by present
law as a condition of operating the offtrack betting facility.
Effective August 1, 2023.
(Amends R.S. 4:214.1)
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.