NEW ORLEANS, LA—APRIL 16, 2014—A bill aimed at improving conditions at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans has unanimously passed the Louisiana House.

According to a report in the April 16 edition of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, House Bill 1223, which provides “provides relative to the expenditure of slot machine proceeds for capital improvements and maintenance of the horse racing facility in Orleans Parish," passed by a 94-0 vote on Wednesday. There was no opposition the bill, which was presented by Rep. Patrick Connick (R-Marrero).

The bill now passes through to a Senate committee. HB 1223 would require Churchill Downs Inc., which owns the Fair Grounds, to reinvest 10 percent of slot machine revenue into the facility. Churchill Downs representatives were at the state capitol in Baton Rouge last week to oppose the bill.

"Finally Churchill Downs has come to the table to address these issues that have been going on so long," Connick said in the meeting. "But it took legislation to do so, and that shouldn’t have happened."

Churchill Downs officials said they object to the Louisiana Legislature involving itself in its business.

"It's simply bad policy to individually single out a business in the state of Louisiana and within one business," said Fair Grounds president Tim Bryant. "It's not good policy, and sets a bad tone for other businesses who want to come in here and do business. It should send a wake-up call to other businesses in the state of Louisiana."

The topic is likely to come up during the April 22 meeting of the Louisiana State Racing Commission. According to a meeting notice, 10-year license approvals to operate racetracks and off-track betting parlors will be discussed, in addition to 2014-15 racing dates.

The 2014-15 racing season will be the Fair Grounds' 10th year under Churchill Downs' operation. The track’s 10-day summer Quarter Horse meet opens in August.