AUSTIN, TX—SEPTEMBER 2, 2015—Texas racetrack executives got the go-ahead this morning (Sep 2) to resume live racing and simulcasting in the sate.

"The racing commission has received the required authorization from the Legislative Budget Board to expend administrative funds for the next three months," stated a letter from Lila Smith, director of pari-mutuel operations for the Texas Racing Commission. "At this time, the agency is resuming all operations, including oversight of both live racing and simulcast wagering."

The one-day shutdown cost the industry about $750,000 in live and simulcast handle on average. The shutdown occurred when the Legislative Budget Board refused to authorize operating funds for the Texas Racing Commission per a special provision in the state budget.

Sam Houston Race Park opens at 10:30 am (CDT) today with the first televised race is scheduled for 11:30 am. The following is a statement from Sam Houston Race Park President, Andrea B. Young: "We are glad to see our ability to operate our business restored. However, we remain extremely concerned with both the process and the extremely short period of funding. Like any business, we need to be able to plan farther out than three months," Andrea B. Young, Sam Houston Race Park President said Wednesday.

Senate members of the board, led by Sen. Jane Nelson R-Flower Mound, chair of the Finance Committee and co-chair Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, didn't want to fully fund the Texas Racing Commission because of disapproval of the commission having approved rules to implement historical race wagering.

The electronic machines, which look like video lottery terminals but are considered pari-mutuel in nature, have been used to grow purses in other states, particularly Arkansas, Kentucky, Wyoming and Idhao.

Nelson, Patrick and other legislative leaders see historical racing as an illegal expansion of gaming in Texas. A district court judge ruled last November that the Texas Racing Commission did not have the authority to adopt the rules for historical racing. That decision has been appealed.

"On behalf of all the hard-working Texans impacted by the recent shutdown, we plan to continue our efforts to strengthen the Texas racing industry. To that end, we look forward to having our day in court on historical racing," she added.