2458

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 847

wager in excess of $166,666.67 daily average during the
racing season, in any one year similarly shall pay to the
Racing Commission HARNESS RACING BOARD for the use of the
State, breakage computed to ten cents (102) on the entire
amount thereof provided, however, that each such licensee
shall deduct and retain one half of the breakage computed to
ten cents (10¢) on the amount wagered on races conducted at
a facility owned by the licensee. Any breakage retained by
the licensee shall be used for physical improvements (as
approved by the State Racing Commission HARNESS RACING BOARD
for the year 1976 and thereafter) to the facility owned by
the licensee. At least one half of those improvements shall
be for those areas commonly referred to as "backstretch"
areas which shall include, for example, but not be limited
to, grooms' quarters, horse stalls, paddock facilities and
track kitchens. (3) Each such licensee shall similarly
pay a license fee of twenty—five dollars ($25.00) for each
day that races are held, provided that the Racing Commission
HARNESS RACING BOARD shall authorize each licensee under
this section to conduct not more than [67] 85 67 days of
racing. THE HARNESS RACING BOARD IS AUTHORIZED, IN ITS
DISCRETION, ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 OF EACH YEAR TO AWARD AN

ADDITIONAL 54 DAYS FOR RACING FOR THE ENSUING YEAR. THE

ADDITIONAL DAYS OF RACING MAY BE AWARDED UNDER SUCH TERMS

AND CONDITIONS AS THE BOARD MAY PRESCRIBE FOR ANY

SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS, CHANGES, IMPROVEMENTS,

OR MAJOR REPAIRS TO OR UPON THE PROPERTY OWNED OR LEASED BY

ANY LICENSEE AND USED FOR THE CONDUCT OF RACING. HOWEVER,

NO MORE THAN 18 ADDITIONAL DAYS OF RACING MAY BE AWARDED TO

ANY SINGLE LICENSEE. THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD ON THE

AWARD OF ALL ADDITIONAL DATES SHALL BE FINAL, AND THE AWARD

OF ALL DATES SHALL, CONSTITUTE A LICENSE AND NOT A FRANCHISE.
The Commission shall promptly pay all taxes collected under
the provisions of this section to the Comptroller. (4)
Each licensee licensed under the provisions of this section
shall, in addition to the other taxes and fees imposed under
the provisions of this article, pay annually to the Maryland
State Fair Board a sum representing one tenth of one per
centum of all money wagered in excess of two million dollars
($2,000,000) with a maximum of three thousand five hundred
dollars ($3,500.00) from each licensee. In addition each
licensee shall allocate a sum equal to 1/2% of the regular
and THE TWO, HORSE multiple mutuel [pool] POOLS AND 1 PERCENT
OF THE THREE OR MORE HORSE MULTIPLE MUTUEL POOL in all races
conducted by it during the year to the Maryland Standardbred
Race Fund as provided by §17A of this article.

(D) (1) AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO AT LEAST 1 PERCENT OF
THE TWO HORSE MULTIPLE MUTUEL POOL ON ALL RACES CONDUCTED
DURING THE YEAR SHALL BE ALLOCATED AS FOLLOWS:

(I)    50 PERCENT TO PURSE MONEY; AND

(II)   50 PERCENT TO TRACK IMPROVEMENTS OF
WHICH:

(A) ONE-HALF SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO
"GRANDSTAND" IMPROVEMENTS; AND