By a 3-2 vote, the Nebraska State Racing Commission approved installation of historic racing machines at Fonner Park.
Commission chairman Dennis P. Lee of Omaha cast the deciding vote after the other four members of the board split 2-2 Wednesday in a meeting at the Fonner Park Cafe.
“The big question in my view with regard to any new wagering, is does it meet the test of parimutuel wagering,” Lee said. “Other states have different requirements. Nebraska is not unlike other states in that it has those same parimutuel requirements.”
In Lee’s opinion, the historic racing machines are indeed another form of parimutuel wagering, and after considering all the evidence, he voted in favor of the measure.
New Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak, who takes over for the retiring Bruce Swihart on Thursday, said he was pleased with the board’s decision.
“I believe and many other people believe it will be the shot in the arm the Nebraska horse racing industry needs, but it can also be a tremendous boost with the tax revenue for the state of Nebraska,” Kotulak said. “I think they will see that immediately once terminals are installed.”
Kotulak said the machines should be up and running sometime between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. The Fonner Park board of directors have already given its OK to put them in after they were approved by the racing commission.
Mike Newlin, vice president and general manager of Horsemen’s Park in Omaha and Lincoln Racecourse, said those two tracks will be in a holding pattern for now in relation to historic racing machines.
“I think with the Omaha and Lincoln tracks, we’ll probably let Fonner install them and see how it plays out. I think it’s wait and see for us,” Newlin said. “Let Fonner put them in and see what happens, make sure there are no legal recourses and we’ll look at it at that time.”