Oklahoma Senate Bill SB754

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/21
• Refer: 2/2/21

Caption

Horse race meetings; allowing decreased number of races per day upon certain approval; providing curtailment of races upon certain acts without penalty; naming natural disasters. Effective date. Emergency.

Impact

The bill particularly impacts the operational requirements of licensed organizations conducting horse races. It retains the previous mandates regarding the minimum number of races for different horse types (Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Paint, and Appaloosa) while providing flexibility to manage race scheduling based on available resources and external conditions. Specifically, it mandates a minimum annual race requirement, yet allows for adjustments, which could facilitate better financial management for organizations affected by uncontrollable events such as natural disasters.

Summary

Senate Bill 754 aims to amend existing regulations regarding horse race meetings in Oklahoma. The bill introduces provisions that allow for a decrease in the number of races per day upon approval from the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission and relevant horsemen's representatives. This bill seeks to accommodate the realities of racing operations, especially in situations where external factors may affect the ability of race organizers to conduct their events as planned.

Contention

A notable aspect of SB754 is its provision that allows for the curtailment of races with no penalty due to 'acts of God,' war, or terrorism. This includes natural disasters that could disrupt the scheduled race meetings. While this provision appears to promote operational resilience, it could be contentious; stakeholders may have differing opinions on how the criteria for such curtailments are managed and the implications this has on revenue and participant engagement in the horse racing sector.