Less Horse Racing?

Lawmakers eye fewer horse racing days

The state House is set to take up a bill allowing Delaware's horse racing tracks to reduce the number of racing days.

The bill to be voted on Thursday would permit a racetrack licensee to reduce the number of racing days from 100 days as currently required if the organization that represents horsemen racing at the track agrees.

Supporters of the measure say reducing the number of racing days can allow tracks to offer purses that are competitive with other racetracks in the mid-Atlantic region.

Lawmakers say the Delaware Racing Association, which owns and operates Delaware Park, and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, recently entered a written agreement that calls for 81 days of live racing.

Delaware has two other horse racing venues -- Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway -- besides Delaware Park in Wilmington.

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Copyright AP - Associated Press
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