Ohio Horse Racing Commission

The Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (OHBPA) told a federal judge Mar. 23 that the present and former owners of Belterra Park are attempting to get out from under a $2.7-million lawsuit over gaming revenues that the track allegedly wrongfully withheld between 2014 and 2018 on the grounds that Ohio's statutory construct for racino revenue sharing offers horsemen no legal remedy when they are denied their fair share. But in fact, the OHBPA states in a memorandum opposing Belterra's motion to dismiss the case, both common law and the...

The Ohio State Racing Commission (OSRC) issued a new directive on Friday that extends an existing shutdown mandating that Thoroughbred and Standardbred tracks remain closed for live racing while stipulating that backstretch facilities at venues where meets were already in progress have to stay "open and operational until further notice." Right now, Mahoning Valley Race Course is the only Thoroughbred track in the state with an operational backstretch. There are about 800 horses and 95 caretakers living in the stable area. The track was supposed to race through Apr. 18,...