Report: Sam Houston cuts purses 17% because of HISA fight

The cost of fighting the current federal regulation of horse racing reportedly will show up this winter in the form of a 17% purse cut at Sam Houston Race Park.

That was the upshot of what track general manager Bryan Pettigrew said in a written message to horsemen, according to Paulick Report. The immediate problem was said to be the unknown commodity of a payment from the Texas horse-industry escrow account funded by the state sales tax.

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“With the uncertainty of (the Texas Thoroughbred Association) receiving HIEA 30% funding by the Texas Racing Commission and no plans of a January special meeting as chairman (Robert) Pate mentioned, we feel it is necessary to make some reductions-changes to our upcoming Thoroughbred meet,” Pettigrew wrote, according to Paulick Report.

The resulting purse reductions from $40,000 to $33,000 for maiden and low-level allowance races will start Jan. 10, one week after the 42-day meet opens next Friday at Sam Houston. There also will be one fewer race per day than last year.

Texas has been challenged by a more than 80% drop in handle in the past three years since its simulcast feeds were cut off from the rest of the country. That is because of the state’s protracted legal fight against the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, a battle that is expected to land in the U.S. Supreme Court perhaps early next year.