Equine support bill passes House of Representatives

OLYMPIA–An equine industry support bill plodding its way through the House of Representatives broke into a gallop Monday when it passed out of the chamber by a vote of 90-8. It advanced to the Senate for consideration prior to the February 15 deadline. If state senators pass the bill, it would go to the governor for his signature and become law.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Joe Schmick (R-9-Colfax), would, without a tax increase, set aside $6 million from sales tax on equine products to be used to support Washington’s equine industry, which has been ailing for a number of years due to competition from other gaming outlets and Oregon’s highly subsidized horse racing industry. Signing on as co-sponsors are representatives Drew Stokesbary (R-31-Auburn), Robert J. Sutherland (R-39-Granite Falls), Emily Wicks (D-38-Everett) and Tom Dent (R-13-Moses Lake).

The legislation includes provisions that will provide financial support for small Class C horse race meets like Dayton Days, the Days of Real Sport in Waitsburg, and horse racing at Kennewick’s Sun Downs. A majority of the support going to the equine industry in Washington state will be in the form of purses for race horse owners running at Emerald Downs in Auburn. Another portion of the money, $450,000 would be dedicated to the Washington Breeders Bonus Fund, and youth activities, such as 4-H, FFA, and equine rescue and therapy ranches, or any equine group, would be eligible for grants from a separate fund of $900,000.

For small tracks in Dayton, Waitsburg, Walla Walla and Kennewick, $600,000 is set aside to be pro-rated among the entities to increase purses and, bill sponsors intend, to revive the Blue Mountain Circuit. Horses from the small tracks in Washington help boost the state’s Class I track, Emerald Downs.

After being introduced, HB 1928 had its first reading January 12, then was sent to the Appropriations Committee. A hearing, in which Dayton Days Inc. President Tim Donohue testified, was held on January 31, and it was voted 30-1 to send it to the Rules Committee. It reached the House floor and passed 90-8.

House Bill 1928 was patterned after a bill signed into law in Texas, where similar issues and obstacles were being experienced, according to Doug Moore, Executive Director of the Washington Horse Racing Commission. In two years since the law was enacted, one track reported a 78% increase in horses participating, and breeders in Texas showed a 140% increase in foal production, he said.

Moore, in testimony before the House Appropriations Committee on January 31, stated that the bill also supports the agriculture industry, and, if passed, would protect hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, plus youth activities such as 4-H and FFA, plus other equine-related activities.

Green spaces where horses are bred and raised, will also benefit from the bill’s effect on the equine industry, Moore said.

Tourism would again give small communities such as Dayton, Waitsburg and Walla Walla a boost, he added.