United Front for AZ and Horseplayers v. AZ-HB 2694
 

At this point, most are very well aware of what has occured in the past few months in Arizona. If not, let me quickly review. The State Legislature in May passed HB 2694, which in essense makes it not only unlawful for horseplayers in the state to wager on races using ADW's, but makes it a Class 6 Felony, equilivent to indicent exposure, sexual conduct with a minor, or placing a person in iniment danger.

The implications on this are devestating to the entire world of horse racing. To the horsemen all states, this bill will be detrimental to the overall wagering handle, and regardless of how insignificant Arizona may seem now, this is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, and the impact will only grow into the future. This also sets a very bad precedent, as this move can very well be taken in any other state in the nation. Finally, this move is very bad for the horsemen and live tracks in Arizona itself, as this has already caused an unpleasant rift between horseplayers and all involved parties in Arizona, and a blame-game is occuring as we speak.

The time is now for the horseplayers of Arizona and the rest of the nation to make a stand against this form of legislation. The current battleground is Arizona, and I am asking for a unified front in this state. Tomorrow morning, I plan on requesting a meeting with the Arizona Horsemen's Horseman’s Benevolent & Protective Association’s (AZHBPA) is discuss the current situation. I believe that the best course of action right now is a diplomatic effort to overturn this bill, and I and others very well connected to the situation believe that the horsemen are the best means of achieving diplomacy.

I am asking that the horseplayers and members of DerbyTrail.com unite to form a single voice.

I am asking that anyone that agrees that HB 2694 is wrong to please reply to this thread with your name, location, and any comments you wish to forward to the AZHBPA. Like others have done in the past with petitions, if you would like to use your real name and location but not post it, please fee free to PM me and I will write it in.

I am honestly not sure where the AZHBPA stands on this issue, and the meeting I will be requesting is only to share the information that I collect and make them aware that the online community is outraged with the events of HB 2694.

I will update this thread and any others that are important in the next few days. I appreciate any assistance that members give, and if anyone would like to talk over the phone or even in person, please feel free to PM me and I will provide contact information.

This is an important issue to all horseplayers, and we must take a united stand against this and similar legislation.

Scav
Illinois

Kyl is an idiot

Pillow Pants
Kentucky
Arrest the Arizona Cardinals for impersonating a football team.

amen to that. kyl is a f-u-c-k-i-n-g a-s-s-h-o-l-e of the highest order.

For what it's worth, I disagree with Senator Jon Kyl on most everything, but this bill was passed in the state legislature, so Kyl can't be blamed for this one. I am sure he is happy, but not to blame on this one...

Pete
Minneapolis, MN

One thing: I'm not sure how much it would help, but you might have the whole University of Arizona at Tucson on your side if you need support in some way:
http://ag.arizona.edu/rtip

That is just sick. Makes it sound like betting some horse races is suddenly akin to holding up someone at gunpoint.

Phil
New York

I would be interested in hearing what the AZHBPA has to say as well. They probably dont care if I know horsemen.

whats sick is it sounds like Turf Paradise pushed FOR this law.....

Satan's Twin
Hell


Morons

Turf Paradise in in fact in support of this law. I spoke with an official from the track, and he is also willing to meet with me to discuss the bill.

They will in fact lose in the end with this law. Bottom line. There has been a great deal of negative publicity created from law. We must overturn it now, or risk the following of many more states into the future...

I think you may see more of this from states similar to arizona and a big problem is the there is no collective power from the horse racing industry. In Tuscon is the countrys biggest horse racing collegiate program and yet its illegal in this state to bet on racing, crazy.

I could see this happening in states like Georgia, Texas, Colorodo....states were the industry is not nearly as important as places like Ny and Ky. They have Arizona to point the way to go.

Bigsmc,
Florida

To lawmakers in Arizona, and throughout this great land. Can we please just stay out of the private business of the honest, hard working people of this country? Whether or not you think gambling is immoral, it should be the right of each individual to choose what he/she would like to do with their money in their leisure time. I'm a law abiding, tax paying citizen, and I, and others like me would like to maintain the ability to make online wagers on horse races around this country. In the grand scheme of things, there has to be many more important issues to concentrate your time and efforts on than whether Joe Citizen is making online wagers on horse races.

Jack, PA

Ian

New York

but if joe has that kind of money to blow, maybe he isn't paying enough in taxes....

This is your chance to be heard.


I will continue to collect comments throughout the next week, so please be heard, even if you have not played any of the Arizona tracks. This is a golden opportunity for the online horseplayers to be heard, and could set a precedent that could be heard across the country into the future.

Please post your comments, or at least your name and location to show your support...

Dave
Virginia

Paul
Massachusetts