By this embarrassment of a story in today’s Paulick report, you guys are enough to make low level gyp tracks everywhere look good:
http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/texas-authorities-arrest-six-in-connection-with-illegal-racetrack/
Seriously folks, 50 illegal tracks!!! Is there no stinking law enforcement in that state?! Come on folks this is a disgrace!
This is not even in the same universe as horse racing at regular racetracks.
It is QH match-racing (usually two, sometimes three horses) that has traditionally been popular in northern Mexico and has come over the border in the last 15-20 years.It also has been historically popular in cajun country in LA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4WY9HlThSc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G3Xfk-m_OI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Yp8NSi7d8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9fyzUeQs6c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud6sm0bMAFU
They do get shut down on a from time to time, but only if undercover law enforcement catch people betting in public. There is no law in Texas, or any state for that matter, that says it’s illegal to race horses against each other. You need no licence to do that. Just like you need no licence to have hunt races and steeplechases in VA, SC and TN. Licencing and state oversight only come into play when you want to have legal gambling.
And FYI, all those famous Cajun jockeys, Delahousaye, Albarado, Borel, Desormeaux, Theirot, Sellers, Talamo etc… they all cut their teeth as teenagers at those kind of bush match races.
4 Likes
For most of the 20th cent. there were various draconian anti-gambling statutes on the books in Texas that discouraged investment in sanctioned racing but enforcement was lax, non-existent in some localities. It was a perfect environment for a thriving ‘bush circuit’ to evolve that still exists in TX and elsewhere. It’s not just QHs. There are plenty of officially “unraced” TBs, historic and modern, that were/are actually seasoned bush circuit veterans.
What’s come over the border just in the last 15-20 years is something more sinister, and it’s infecting sanctioned as well as unsanctioned horseracing.
where can i find the laws on unlicensed bush tracks in texas? Ive looked on .gov but the only thing that populates is licensed race tracks.
There isn’t any thing because there is no governing body to make and enforce rules. For sure nothing in writing, and thats the whole idea behind it.
2 Likes
So the law is cracking down on gambling and animal abuse and NOT unsanctioned horse racing events?
What kind of law are you expecting to find?
I don’t think there are local, state, or federal laws anywhere regarding unsanctioned horse events. A bunch of people getting together to “race” horses isn’t inherently different than something like a lesson barn having a Halloween fun show for their students. 
1 Like
I currently run one of these bush tracks that the Texas racing commission considers to be illegal. On Sept 29, 2024 the texas racing commission had raided a track in levelland tx. There was over 100 agents involved. They used a such a huge force for such a small event. Nine individuals were arrested for various offenses including “Unlawful Racing”. What is considered unlawful racing? I would like to find out all the rules and regulations so I can educate others and make these events 100% legitimate.
2 Likes
well with over two million known illegal aliens in the state there are other priorities than check on their horse racing activates
I’m not sure you’re going to find your answer here.
But if you want legitimacy for where you run, I’m pretty sure you have to go through your state’s racing commission. Or at least make an inquiry with them.
There are plenty of hunt races and fair meetings around the country that offer purse money yet aren’t parimutuel. I’m not quite sure the logistics of governing those. If any wagering is involved, the races have to go through the racing/gaming commission. I think that’s true everywhere.
4 Likes
No one really knows the rules at this point. There is some vague language but nothing concrete. That said, I believe based on reading the transcript of the August 8ty meeting may change. I highly recommend you read it entirely if you run one of these tracks. Lots of confusion about what’s going on
Link to the transcript:
And here’s a link to all the meetings. Not sure if they live stream them, but maybe go to them if possible for you. Next one appears to be November 14 at Lone Star
https://www.txrc.texas.gov/commissionmeetings
