According to an Associated Press report, Thomas suggested that the state should consider scaling back the subsidy, which was $58 million in 2010, to pre-2009 levels. He added that what started off as an attempt to jump start the industry might have to be re-evaluated.

In 2009, the subsidy was expanded to include a percentage of slot machine revenues from the state's two pari-mutuel racetracks, Indiana Downs and Hoosier Park. Those revenues also subsidize purses for the tracks' races. The state subsidy before the tracks opened was $28 million, or about 48 percent of what it was last year.

“Assuming that a continued subsidy to the horse racing community is deemed proper by the Indiana Legislature, we respectfully recommend that the Legislature consider evaluating the amount of the subsidy and consider a monetary cap at pre-racino figures,” Thomas said.

The Legislature created the subsidy in 1993, funding it from taxes on riverboat gaming, in an effort to grow the industry. Since then, the industry has received $427 million in subsidies, and considering that horse racing's direct economic impact has grown from $181 million in 2005 to $733 million last year, according to a Purdue University study, the funds appear to have made an impact.

Herb Likens, chairman of the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, told Associated Press that cutting the subsidy would devastate the industry.

“The quality of racing in the state of Indiana would go down rapidly,” Likens said. “I know there's a lot of competition for dollars, but people don't realize how important horse racing is to Indiana.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Montana Board of Horse Racing will meet on Friday, December 2, to discuss 2012 race dates and introduce the new Business Advisory Council, a three-member group tasked with providing financial, budget and business strategy advice to the board.

The meeting will take place at the Montana Lottery Building in Helena, beginning at 10 a.m. (MST).

Created by Gov. Brian Schweitzer earlier this month, the council consists of State Sen. Cliff Larsen of Missoula, and Dore Schwinden and Christian Mackay, directors of the state departments of Commerce and Livestock.

The executive order creating the council, which is attached directly to the Governor’s Office, said that Montana has an interest “in the economic viability of the board (of racing) and the industry, which have been struggling financially to support race events in Montana.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Canterbury Park has received approval from the Minnesota Racing Commission to conduct a 62-day meet next year. The meet, which will run from May 18-September 3, will feature Thursday and Friday racing beginning at 7 p.m. and weekend and holiday racing starting at 1:30 p.m.

Featured race days in 2012 will include the Minnesota Festival of Champions, a day dedicated to the best state-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, and the second annual Fillies Race For Hope, a day of races exclusively for fillies and mares that will benefit Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation. Dates for those events and a complete stakes schedule will be announced in January.

“The 2012 race meet will closely resemble the meet we ran this year, minus the state government shutdown that caused Canterbury and the horse owners, trainers, and breeders to lose 20 days of business," Canterbury Park president Randy Sampson said. “While the shutdown and loss of revenues had a negative impact on next season's purses, it is necessary to offer sufficient racing opportunities so that Canterbury continues to attract enough horses to make the meet a success.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The New Mexico State Fair Commission on Monday voted 4-3 to approve a 25-year lease for The Downs at Albuquerque.

The commission's decision must now go to the state Board of Finance for review.

The lease includes construction of a modern $20-million, 52,000-square foot casino, which would replace the casino located on the third floor of the grandstand while doubling the amount of slot machines on the property, closer to the heavily traveled intersection of Central Avenue and Louisiana Boulevard.

The Downs current lease expires on January 1. The finances of Expo New Mexico, the 236-acre fairgrounds that hosts the annual State Fair in Albuquerque, are reliant on the annual $2-million lease payments by The Downs.

Expo New Mexico is a state enterprise that is required to pay its own way. Expo general manager Mourning has said that Expo can't survive without the lease payments.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Arizona Historical Society's Historic Sites Review Committee has approved the application submitted by Rillito Park Racetrack and the J. Rukin Jelks House, which is located on a wildlife corridor adjacent to the track. The application will move to the National Historic Society for approval.

Rukin Jelks purchased the land in 1943, after which he built his home and began racing at what is now Rillito Park. Jelks was one of the founding members of the Arizona Quarter Racing Association.

Rillito Park's upcoming 70th anniversary season will run weekends, with the exception of Super Bowl weekend (February 4-5) from January 28-March 25.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
A total of 18 state-bred distaffers have been nominated to Saturday's 400-yard, $140,000-added New Mexico Fillies & Mares Championship (RG2) at Zia Park.

Topping the list of nominees is Jenuine Joy, a homebred 5-year-old daughter of Genuine Strawfly racing for Fredda Draper. Jenuine Joy has won three of six starts this year, including the 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Championship (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs, and the 400-yard, $85,000 Tommy “Duke” Smith Handicap (RG2) at SunRay Park.

Jenuine Joy is coming off of a close second-place finish to Down With You in the October 31 New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1) at Zia.

Other nominees include Miss Chicks Vision, a stakes-winning 3-year-old filly by Chicks A Blazin campaigned by SM Cattle Export Co. and Jaime Dominguez. Miss Chicks Vision would be making her first start since August 21, when she ran second to By By Corona in the 400-yard, $50,000 Pelican Stakes (RG3) for state-bred sophomore fillies at The Downs at Albuquerque.