Powers of the Commission

Purposes

The purpose of the Texas Racing Act is to:

"provide for the strict regulation of horse racing and greyhound racing and the control of pari-mutuel wagering in connection with that racing. (Act, §1.02)

"[to] regulate and supervise every race meeting in this state involving wagering on the result of greyhound or horse racing. All persons and things relating to the operation of those meetings are subject to regulation and supervision by the commission. The commission shall adopt rules for conducting greyhound or horse racing in this state involving wagering and shall adopt other rules to administer this Act that are consistent with this Act." (Act, §3.02)

The Commission is authorized to issue up to three licenses for Class 1 horse racetracks, which must be located in counties with a population of at least 750,000 or a county adjacent to such a county. (Act, §6.02) The counties with a population of at least 750,000 are Harris County, Bexar County, Dallas County, and Tarrant County.

The Commission is also authorized to issue Class 2, 3, and 4 horse racetrack licenses. None of these types of licenses are restricted as to location or number, although Class 3 and 4 racetracks must be owned/operated by county fairs or nonprofit corporations.

 The Commission is authorized to issue up to three licenses for greyhound racetracks, which must be located in counties with a population of at least 190,000 that include part of an island that borders the Gulf of Mexico. (Act, §6.04(c), §6.14(c)) The counties that meet the requirements for a greyhound racetrack are Cameron County, Nueces County, and Galveston County.

The Commission issues licenses to all people who participate in pari-mutuel racing, whether as a jockey, owner, trainer, or concession worker. (Act, §7.02) In addition, the Commission hires officials who oversee all live pari-mutuel racing conducted in this state and regulates all simulcast races offered for wagering in this state. (Act, §3.07, §11.011)

The Commission is authorized to deny, suspend, and revoke licenses, as well as to impose administrative penalties against its licensees of up to $10,000 for each violation of the Commission's rules. (Act, §6.06, §7.04, §15.03) In addition, the stewards/racing judges supervising racing at each racetrack are authorized to suspend licenses for up to one year and to assess fines of up to $5,000. (Act, §3.07) The stewards/racing judges may call hearings for infractions on their motion or on referral from the Executive Director or the Commission's investigators. The Commission, the stewards/racing judges, and the Executive Director may also order any person, not just licensees, ejected or excluded from pari-mutuel racetracks. (Act, §13.01)

The Commission staff in Austin monitors the activities of racetrack licensees through periodic inspections. By using information provided by Commission staff at the racetracks, the press, the public, and other licensees, the Commission is better able to ensure all racing licensees conduct their business in accordance with the applicable law and rules.

Consumer complaints are accepted by the Commission and may be filed anonymously. Click here to learn more about filing a complaint with the Commission.