HARRY HUGHES, Governor

19

WHEREAS, Maryland's racing and breeding industries generate
nearly one billion dollars annually and employ 19,000 people, and

WHEREAS, The revitalization of this industry and assistance
in helping it meet the challenge of increased competition from
neighboring states is in the best interest of the general welfare
and economic health of

The General Assembly finds that horse racing has a major
role in the State's economy and in order to maintain the quality
of horse racing in Maryland and to enable the race tracks to
compete with tracks in other states, it is necessary to provide
additional funds for the purse structure and for improvements at
the race tracks. The State's share of the pari-mutuel betting is
being reduced to provide additional funds for those purposes. It
is the intent of the General Assembly that the additional funds
be used to increase the purse structure, to improve the
facilities at the race tracks, to increase the quality of
services provided to the racing patrons and increase marketing,
public relations and promotions to enhance the image of racing in
Maryland. It is also the intent of the General Assembly that the
race tracks utilize the funds to minimize the adverse impact of
racing on the communities adjacent to the race tracks, and for
these purposes, this Act is proposed; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 78B - Racing Commission

7.

(a)  Any person or persons, association or corporation,
desiring to conduct racing within the State of Maryland during
any calendar year, shall apply to the Maryland Racing Commission
for a license so to do. Such application shall be filed with the
[secretary] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Commission on or before a
day to be fixed by the Commission. Such application shall
specify the days on which such racing is desired to be conducted
or held, and such application shall be in such form and supply
such data and information as the said Maryland Racing Commission
shall prescribe.

(b)  Said Racing Commission shall, as soon as practicable,
award all dates for racing in the State of Maryland on or before
December 1 of each year for racing for the ensuing year. The said
dates so awarded shall not exceed [one hundred and eighty (180)]
216 days. The Commission [in its discretion on or before December
1 of each year] may also award an additional [forty-eight (48)]
80 days for racing for the ensuing year. [ Said forty-eight (48)]
THE 80 days of racing may be awarded under such terms and
conditions as the Commission may prescribe for any substantial
alterations, additions, changes, improvements or major repairs to