Horse Racing May Make A Comeback

Stands bursting with cheering crowds, groups of visibly excited participants and nervously neighing horses; all anticipating a day of excitement and entertainment – these sights have for long been a memory of the past for residents of Dayton, Ohio. Ever since interest in horse racing began to wane, the City of Learners has seen lesser and lesser participation in horse racing. Blame can be assigned to increased interest in other forms of gambling like slots, lottery, poker and online games.

But things may take a turn for the better soon, as industry insiders reveal a proposition made by the Dayton Days Inc. Board to the Horse Nations Indian Relay Council to organize an Indian relay races Memorial Day weekend in the city, come May 2019.

Vice president of Dayton Days Inc, Tim Donahue, stated to the press that he anticipates expenses worth $50,000 to $55,000 per day for the proposed event. Currently, the Board has around $15,000 on hand in cash, with other non-liquid assets to their name. Efforts are in place to secure the amount necessary to host the event.

But one thing that is still a cause for concern for Donahue and the Board is insurance. Premiums have been on the rise for years. According to Washington Horse Racing Commission regulations, all liabilities associated with horse racing, for example cash prizes for winners, insurance for the horses, riders, holders & muggers, insurance for volunteers and spectators and expenses for food, beverages and other amenities – all have to be covered by the hosting organization. In the past, during the prime horse racing days of Dayton, the city would purchase insurance in partnership with Waitsburg, Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities, as part of the Parimutuel horse racing and betting system. But, post-disbanding of the organization, Dayton Days Inc has had to purchase insurance by itself. This has made horse racing a highly-expensive affair for the Board.

The last time an Indian relay races event was hosted in Dayton was in 2010. The sport was then stopped indefinitely until further notice due to lack of funding. With little funding coming their way now, the Dayton Days Inc Board fears their dreams for hosting a race day weekend may be a distant reality.

However, all is not lost. The overturning of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) has brought the topic of sports betting legalization to the forefront of the Ohio Senate. If sports betting could be legalized in the state, Dayton Days Inc could requisition for a portion of the tax revenue to be re-directed to them to host a city-wide horse racing Memorial Day celebration. Now only time will tell how things will pan out.