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by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
The Columbus harness
track will be able to simulcast thoroughbred racing under legislation afoot
in the Legislature.
A Senate subcommittee today (Feb. 20) approved for full-committee
consideration a bill by Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, that would allow for the
harness track to expand its simulcasting menu.
Currently under state law, the harness track can only simulcast harness
racing.
The proposed legislation would allow the harness track to enter into an
agreement with Canterbury
Park to share
simulcasting revenues.
“This is an equity scenario,” said Jeffrey Halpern, co-founder to Southwest
Casino Corporation and Vice President of Government Affairs.
 The corporation owns the
harness track.
Halpern indicated that the inclusion of thoroughbred racing could triple
simulcast revenues for the harness track.
Columbus Mayor Mel Mettler, left, and city planning chairman
Andy Anderson testified on behalf of legislation permitting the Columbus harness track
to simulcast thoroughbred horse racing along with harness racing. Currently
under state law the track could only simulcast harness track racing. (Photo
by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)
The track, which is scheduled to open on April 11, will open a card club
later this summer.
Questioned by Sen. Jim Vickerman, DFL-Tracy, whether the menu of harness
track racing, the card club and expanded simulcasting would be all Southwest
Casino Corporation would ask for, Halpern indicated that it was. “That is
correct,” he said.
The legislation received backing from City of Columbus officials.
“I can’t impress on upon you how much the track is anticipated by the people
in the area,” said Columbus Mayor Mel Mettler.
Don Steinke, of Forest
Lake, a member of a
citizen’s coalition opposed to the track, questioned the financial viability
of it. “We fail to see any reason to expand gambling in Minnesota,” he said.
But the subcommittee voted to move Rest’s legislation onto the full State and
Local Government Operation and Oversight Committee agenda.
Coauthors on Rest’s bill include Sen. Debbie Johnson, R-Ham Lake,
and Sen. Don Betzold, DFL-Fridley.
The companion bill in the House was introduced last week and has not yet had
a hearing.
It also has bipartisan support, Rep. Denise Dittrich, DFL-Champlin, Rep.
Kathy Tingelstad, R-Andover, Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, among the bill
coauthors.
Rest insists if any attempt is made at adding other gambling legislation to
her bill she will withdraw it.
Brian McClung, Pawlenty Administration press secretary, said the
administration has not yet reviewed the legislation.
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