Horse racing bills moving in Olympia

OLYMPIA–The Washington State Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee held a public hearing Tuesday, February 7, on Senate Bill 5598, a bill which would earmark $6 million in sales tax revenue from equine products and services for the operation of the Washington State Horse Racing Commission.

Included in the bill would be operating funding for Class C tracks, which would include Sundown in Richland and Dayton Days. Other Class C horse meets in the area were held in Waitsburg and Walla Walla.

A companion bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives this session, House Bill 1529.

Senator Perry Dozier (R-16-Waitsburg) is a ranking member of the committee conducting the hearing. "I'm very appreciative of Senator Mullet bringing this bill forward," Dozier said. "The Sixteenth District has many of those tracks that you spoke about...Sundowns, Walla Walla, Waitsburg had one, Dayton also.

"And those were tremendous weekends for us growing up," he continued. "My father in law was involved with horse racing for many years and the economic impact that it brought to these small towns is unmeasurable. My hopes are that we can get that back at some point.

"Obviously, when you lose it, it's hard to get back that momentum, but, again, I think this would be a tremendous opportunity for us in eastern Washington, and, again, in our small communities to regain some of that economic benefit and enjoy what used to be a tradition," Dozier said.

In 2022, Dayton Days, Inc. supported a nearly identical bill which narrowly missed being debated on the Senate floor prior to the bill deadline.

Attorney Patrick LePley testified that the funding, if it becomes law, would also help pay for regulatory expenses at the Racing Commission, which anticipates a $600,000 shortfall in 2024.

"It would also distribute money to support Class C racing," LePley said. "We're hoping to get started Dayton...Dayton Days, and also Walla Walla," he said. "They still have functional race tracks that will need to be brought up to racing standards."

Other programs the funding would support, LePley said, include equine activities and recreational horse activities, including horse rescue programs and therapeutic riding programs. Also distributed would be additional funds to owners and breeders of Washington-bred horses and infuse funds into the health and welfare of back-stretch employees.

"A portion of the bill would go to supporting and providing funds to the Class 1 racing association in the state of Washington," LePley said, "which is Emerald Downs, by making certain that the racing surface meets national accreditation standards and that EMTs and a fully staffed ambulance available for training hours, and an on-call veterinarian at the track...all expenses that are currently being met but freeing up those expenses would greatly improve the financial situation that the horsemen find here in Washington.

"It's our very strong belief that these investments will more than pay for themselves and will lead to the purchase of additional horses and owners returning to the state of Washington to race here, and increasing the foal production here in Washington," he testified.