CGA legal counsel Mark Grueskin said he believes that the Colorado constitution, which was amended in 1990 to allow limited-stakes gambling in three former mining towns in the state, already prohibits VLTs from being operated elsewhere.

The Denver Business Journal last week reported that, because horse track owners are backing legislation that they believe would allow them to operate VLTs as an extension of the Colorado Lottery, the CGA feels a need to run a ballot initiative cementing its position.

“This is to mandate voter approval of all forms of slot machines, which is really a clarification of existing law, we believe,” Grueskin said at a recent review and comment hearing with state legal officials. “But this issue seems somewhat on the order of the movie 'Groundhog Day' the way it comes up over and over.”

House Bill 1280, sponsored by Republican Reps. Jerry Sonnenberg and Don Coram, would allow a horse track owner to operate as many as 2,500 VLTs in one Western Slope location, likely near the Mesa County Fairgrounds or Montrose County Fairgrounds, where a track with an annual race meet could be established.

Supporters of HB 1280 contend that the measure, which has been approved by its first House committee, would generate $35 million a year in tax revenue for the state, thus supplying funds to tourism marketing and community colleges, among other recipients.

The CGA claims that VLTs are just gaming devices that in Colorado can't be located off Native American reservations or outside the designated gambling towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek.

One constitutional amendment would require that any city or county outside the designated gaming towns that wants to install VLTs must receive approval from statewide voters and from voters of that locality. The other would allow any jurisdiction to permit VLTs but would not allow any of the proceeds to go to private parties — HB 1280 would allow the horse-track owners to keep 70 percent of proceeds — unless statewide electors vote otherwise.

A CGA spokesperson said that her organization plans to proceed with plans to get both amendments certified for the ballot. Bill Ray, a spokesperson for Mile High Racing and Entertainment Inc., which owns Arapahoe Park near Denver, said he hoped the Legislature would be allowed to decide whether VLTs can be operated outside of the three gaming towns. He added that Mile High will fight either amendment if they were to appear on the statewide ballot in November.

“These are just ways they're looking to protect their monopoly,” Ray said of the CGA. “We believe the Legislature has the ability and the right to expand lottery and is debating that right now, and, once again, the casinos want to stop that debate. They don't want competition or a free market for gaming.”

A title board of the Secretary of State's office will hear the proposed ballot titles next.

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The White Earth Nation of Ojibwe Indians in northwestern Minnesota has proposed giving $12 million to the state's two racetracks in exchange for permission to build a casino in the Twin Cities area.

The proposal also includes a $400-million grant to the state to build a state-of-the-art stadium to keep the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League from leaving the state.

According to the Duluth News-Tribune, the money would come only after a casino receives final approval, which might not come until after a lengthy court challenge. Opponents to the plan include the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association, which represents most Minnesota American Indian tribes with casinos, but not White Earth.

The White Earth Nation would foot the entire $700-million bill to build the casino and would split its profits with the state. Nation chairwoman Dr. Erma Vizenor said casino planners are looking at several potential locations, including Minneapolis, Arden Hills and Anoka.

The tribe says it does not get enough profit from its existing casino in Mahnomen and since 2005 has sought a Twin Cities presence. White Earth members make up 40 percent of the state’s American Indians and it is the poorest tribe.

The $12 million proposed for Minnesota's racing industry would help improve purses at the state's two tracks, Canterbury Park in Shakopee and Running Aces Harness Park in Columbus. The two tracks long have sought permission to expand their own operations to allow casino-style gambling, but bills introduced this year appear to lack votes to pass.

State Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) said the White Earth plan would not ban racinos. House Speaker Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) called the White Earth idea interesting, but doubted there would be enough votes to pass it. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton earlier downplayed its chances.

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The Gem County Fairgrounds at Emmett, Idaho, will open its 27th race meet this Saturday and Sunday. Unlike years past, there will be an off week before racing resumes on April 28.

Conducted on a half-mile oval, the Gem County Fair meet opens the 2012 racing season in Idaho. Track officials are expecting participation from horsemen from Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Colorado, and Nevada.

The major stakes of the three-day meet, the 300-yard, $5,000-added Dutch Masters III Futurity, will be run on April 28. For more information, visit www.gemcountyfairgrounds.com or call Kathy Black at (208) 365-6828.

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Tote and gaming company Sportech, through its Sportech Racing subsidiary, will provide Evangeline Downs Racetrack in Opelousas, Louisiana, with a customized wagering website, a smart-phone/tablet wagering application, and turnkey services, including customer care and marketing support.

Until now, the racetrack has not had a dedicated ADW system.

“Entering the online pari-mutuel wagering market in Louisiana is an important venture for us, and so it was vital to choose the right partner in order to succeed,” said Evangeline Downs chief operating officer Jonathan Swain. “Our player relationships are a top priority for us, and we value the ability to at once offer great online and mobile wagering experiences while still being able to manage that player relationship.

“We're confident that our new website will position Evangeline Downs competitively in Louisiana's pari-mutuel wagering marketplace,” he added.

According to its website, Sportech Racing – consisting of the former Scientific Games Racing and the former Autotote Enterprises – processes more than $13 billion in bets in 30 different countries.

Evangeline Downs' 2012 Thoroughbred meet runs April 18-September 8 and will be followed by a 46-date Quarter Horse season starting in October. For more information, visit the track's website at www.evangelinedowns.com.

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Horse Race North Dakota has announced that it has raised enough money for a second weekend of racing at the North Dakota Horse Park in Fargo.

HRND president Wes Heinert said that the extra weekend will help the track attract more interest in the meet from horsemen and racing fans. The four-day race meet will run July 14-15 and 21-22.

“Without that second weekend, we wouldn’t have the horses or the crowds,” Heinert told the Grand Forks Herald. “This way, we can build up the excitement. More horses will come in for more racing.”

Heinert added that Integrated Betting Network, a simulcast company, agreed to pay the $36,000 in operational costs for the second weekend. The North Dakota Racing Commission has approved the second weekend of racing and requested the financial commitment be submitted in writing.

The North Dakota Horse Park opened in 2003, and its first race meet drew a total of 41,725 fans. This year's racing season will be its first since 2009.

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The Montana Board of Horse Racing on April 2 voted to ask for a one-year extension for its first repayment of about $76,200 of a loan it received from the state, saying it needs that much time to get the money together.

According to the news website Montana Watchdog, the board also turned the reins over to simulcast operators to devise a plan to have simulcast wagering return to state's eight off-track betting locations in time for the Triple Crown races, which begin with the $2-million Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 5.

Last December, the board suspended simulcasting for what it hoped would be two months, while an advisory committee appointed by Gov. Brian Schweitzer determined why it lost more than $609,638 operating off-track wagering sites in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula. Board officials reportedly cannot find six of the eight vendor contracts.

The board, administratively linked to the state Dept. of Livestock (DOL), began managing simulcasting in November 2010 after ending its contract with Montana Entertainment, which took over the previous year. Prior to that, the state had a longtime contract with a nonprofit group, Montana Simulcast Partners, which reportedly had successfully managed the racing.

At its March 8 meeting, the board approved allowing DOL staff to pursue a loan from the Montana Dept. of Administration (DOA) to pay off the deficit, which had been estimated at one time to be $614,249. Officials said the board had to resolve the financial shortfall by the end of this fiscal year, June 30.

The DOA approved the loan on March 30. DOL administrator George Harris told the board it had eight years to repay the loan to the state, and added that the first payment was due in a little more than two months.

“We don’t have the cash sitting around now to pay off what we need to pay by June 30, so we will be sweating,” said Harris, who at an earlier meeting suggested using revenue from fantasy sports and advance deposit wagering to pay the loans.

Tom Tucker, a previous simulcast operator, has been analyzing the board's financial information to determine how the deficit occurred. He also said the board should consider getting the simulcast operation up in time for the first Triple Crown race and limit simulcasting to four days a week.

Tucker added that he approached some independent operators but was told they were not interested in coming to Montana. Officials tried to enlist Tucker to help start the simulcasting again, but he declined, saying he didn't have the time. However, he did offer to help others who wanted simulcasting to return.

Board member John Hayes of Great Falls said he has heard from several bar owners who want the simulcast operation back up and running again. The simulcast operators will meet and said they would come back to the board with a proposal at its next meeting.

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Two-time graded stakes winner Call Me A Blazn Chic is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 350-yard, $110,000 Sunburst Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies at Sunland Park.

A brown daughter of Chicks A Blazin out of the stakes-winning Calyx mare Willie Call Me, Call Me A Blazn Chic has earned $379,885 from nine races for her owner, Javier Marquez's J & M Racing and Farm of Monahans, Texas. The filly's three wins include last year's 400-yard, $331,000 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2) at Zia Park and 400-yard, $384,000 Zia Futurity (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs.

Call Me A Blazn Chic is coming off of a fourth-place finish in the January 7 Shue Fly Stakes (RG2) at Sunland Park.

Other prominent Sunburst entries include Sparklin Royal and Fysta, the respective winner and runner-up of last year's New Mexico State Fair Senorita Futurity (RG3) at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Also, Sunland Park racing secretary Mike Shamburg received 17 nominations – including five Thoroughbreds – for the 870-yard, $50,000 Getaway Stakes for 3-year-olds on closing day, April 17.

One of the Quarter Horses nominated, Lewis Dillree's LD Kinky Biscuit, is a homebred gelding by champion Jess Louisiana Blue who has won two 870-yard races during the current Sunland meet. Two of the Thoroughbred nominees – Black Hawk Stable's Alsvid and Michael Stinson's Worthington – were stakes winners last year. Alsvid won the 6-furlong, $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes at Remington Park, and Worthington was the 2 1/4-length victor of the 5-furlong, $50,000 Minstrel Stakes on the turf at Louisiana Downs.

Entries for the Getaway, along with the rest of Sunland Park's closing-day program, will be taken on Tuesday.

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Remington Park racing secretary Dan Fick has received 27 nominations for Saturday's 300-yard, $50,000 Bob Moore Memorial Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds and older. The race honors the memory of the longtime Oklahoma breeder who died 1998, and its past winners include AQHA champions Joanna Kate, who won the inaugural running in '99, and Spit Curl Diva (2010).

Topping the list of this year's Bob Moore nominees is Wcrseperateandcool. A 7-year-old gelding by Separatist racing for Saul Acosta, Wcrseperateandcool has banked $131,205 from 18 outs, and his eight victories include the 350-yard, $26,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap at Remington on March 18.

Other prominent nominees include Denis and Julie Schoenhofer's First Klas Fred and Dan W. Nicks' John The Banker. First Klas Fred has earned $538,443 from 20 races and was the AQHA champion 2-year-old gelding three years ago, and John The Banker ran second, a neck behind winner Sixes Streak, in last year's $414,000 Dash For Cash Futurity (G1) at Lone Star Park.

The Bob Moore is one of seven Quarter Horse stakes scheduled for this weekend at Remington. One of the track's other stakes, Sunday's 350-yard, $30,000-added Mr Master Bug Handicap (R) for Oklahoma-bred sophomore colts and geldings, has drawn 21 nominations. Gregory Cullum's Katillac Man, the 124-pound highweight, put together a four-race win streak last year that included the $80,000 Iowa Double Gold Futurity (RG3) at Prairie Meadows. The sorrel gelding by champion Country Chicks Man also ran second, a neck behind winner Sumokin, in the 400-yard, $427,000 Black Gold Futurity Championship (RG2) at Will Rogers Downs.

Five other nominees have been assigned 123 pounds – Cashin The Wagon, Second Painted Sign, Smokin Bye You, YM Quick, and You Can Call Mr Earl.

Entries for Saturday's program will be drawn on Wednesday, and Sunday's entries will be taken on Thursday.

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Here are a few more notes on the two-horse Quarter Horse race held at Gulfstream Park near Miami on Sunday:

The riders of both horses – Wendy Culberson (on winner Born To Boogie) and Tracy Bishop (on Zan Parr Taker) – did not carry whips. Also, Gulfstream Park offered only one-dollar (minimum) win wagering, on track only, and the race handled $1,758.

The favorite Born To Boogie paid $3 to win.