Washington Horse Racing Commission
6326 Martin Way E, Suite 209
Olympia, Washington 98516
Phone: 360.459.6462
Fax: 360.459.6461
2004 Annual Report

June 23, 2005

The Honorable Christine Gregoire, Governor
State of Washington
P. O. Box 40002
Olympia, Washington 98504-0002

Dear Governor Gregoire:

On behalf of the Washington Horse Racing Commission (WHRC) I am pleased to advise you that our 2004 Annual Report has been posted on our website, www.whrc.wa.gov. Pursuant to the provisions of the Washington Horse Racing Act, Chapter 67.16 RCW the WHRC submits it’s forty-seventh annual report for the period beginning January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.

The WHRC and its staff are pleased and gratified that horse racing is recognized as both an economic and recreational asset to the people of Washington. The racing and breeding industries are a valuable sector of the state’s economy and agribusiness.

We appreciate your continued support of the WHRC and the horse racing industry and look forward to working with you to address the challenges that confront horse racing while we work to strengthen its role and viability in our state.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Christenson
Chairman

Senator Bill Finkbeiner
Ex-Officio Member

Dr. Bud Hallowell, DMV
Commissioner

Senator Marilyn Rasmussen
Ex-Officio Member

Hartly Kruger
Commissioner

Representative Skip Priest
Ex-Officio Member

Deanna Oppenheimer
Commissioner

Representative Dave Quall
Ex-Officio Member

Judi Roland
Commissioner

 
Emerald Downs
Wager Type
Wagers Placed
Returned To Public
Track/OTB Wagers
136,467,998.00
108,910,146.15
Advanced Deposit Wagers
2,750,871.00
Not Available
Total Retention
 
Retention
27,557,851.85
255,538.59
 
27,813,390.44

Class C Purse Fund
One-tenth of one percent of in-state track/OTB pari-mutuel wagers is collected every calendar year to provide funding for purses at the state’s non-profit race tracks the following year. The Washington Horse Racing Commission provides the funds collected plus the difference between this amount and three hundred thousand dollars. The amount collected in 2003 was $138,919.98 leaving a difference of $161,080.02 which was paid from the Commission’s operating budget in 2004. The distribution is based on the number of live race days at each non-profit racetrack.
RCW 67.16.105(3)

Class C Purse Fund Revenue Source
pari-mutuel wagering
Washington Horse Racing Commission operating revenue
Total Revenue Received
 
138,919.98
161,080.02
300,000.00
Class C Purse Fund Revenue Distribution
Racetrack
pari-mutuel Wagers
WHRC Operating
Sun Downs
69,459.98
80,504.02
Walla Walla
34,730.00
40,270.00
Waitsburg
13,893.00
16,107.00
Dayton
20,837.00
24,163.00
Total Fund Distribution
 
 
150,000.00
75,000.00
30,000.00
45,000.00
300,000.00

Donohue Fund
Interest derived from the Owner's Bonus Funds in 2003 were paid to the non-profit racetracks in 2004 for maintaining and upgrading their respective racing courses and equine quartering areas.
RCW 67.16.102(2)

Donohue Fund Revenue Source
Interest paid to the Donohue Fund
Total Revenue Received
 
7,856.74
7,856.74
Donohue Fund Revenue Distribution
Sun Downs
Walla Walla
Waitsburg
Dayton
Total Fund Distribution
 
1964.18
1964.18
1964.19
1964.19
7,856.74

Owners Bonus
One percent of in-state track/OTB pari-mutuel wagering is paid at the end of the race year to all licensed owners whose horses place first, second, third, or fourth. The horses must be bred within Washington State and run at a for-profit race track.
RCW 67.16.102(1)

With the authorization of Advance Deposit Wagering there are now two sources of revenue for the Owners Bonus: in-state track/OTB wagering and the Source Market Fee.
WAC 260-49-070

Owners Bonus Revenue Source
Track and off-track wagers placed in-state
Source market fee
Total Revenue Received
 
1,364,679.98
6,388.47
1,371,068.45

Breeders Award
One percent of in-state track/OTB exotic wagers is paid at the end of the race year to the breeders of record for each Washington bred horse that finished first at a for-profit race track.
RCW 67.16.175

With the authorization of Advance Deposit Wagering there are now two sources of revenue for the Breeders Award: in-state track/OTB wagering and the Source Market Fee.
WAC 260-49-070

Breeders Award Revenue Source
Track and off-track wagers placed in-state
Source market fee
Total Revenue Received
 
821,317.54
6,388.47
827,706.01

Commission Operating Revenue
The Washington Horse Racing Commission receives a percent from the track/OTB wagers placed in Washington State. A fee of $500 per day is collected from each Class A race track and $10 per day from each Class C race track (non-profit) for each live race day. License fees and a portion of the source market fee are collected as part of the Commissions operating funds. These funds are used to regulate horse racing within Washington State.

License Types License Number Fee Amount
Owners 1,812 15.00
Trainers 155 15.00
Jockey 72 15.00
Grooms 360 5.00
Platers 40 15.00
Pony 164 5.00
Exercise 235 5.00
Veterinarians 18 15.00
Vendors 52 5.00
Authorized Agents 192 5.00
Prospective Owners 26 25.00
Stable Licenses 230 25.00
Association Staff 1006 5.00
Other Staff 79 5.00
Spouse Groom 24 5.00
Apprentice Jockey 1 15.00
Assistant Trainer 4 15.00
Jockey Agent 12 5.00
Processing Fees    
Daily Fee Class A 90 Race Days 500.00/Day
Daily Fee Class C 20 Race Days 10.00/Day
Advanced deposit wagering license fees
Source market fee
pari-mutuel tax on track/OTB wagers placed in-state
Totals: 4,549  
Total
27,180.00
2,325.00
1,080.00
1,800.00
600.00
820.00
1,175.00
270.00
260.00
960.00
650.00
5,750.00
5,030.00
395.00
120.00
15.00
60.00
60.00
1,270.00
45,000.00
200.00
12,000.00
17,887.70
1,774,083.95
1,898,991.65
Class C Racetrack Wagers Distribution
  pari-mutuel Wagering

Return
To Public

Dayton 66,107.00 53,264.00
Sun Downs 397,446.00 319,311.00
Waitsburg 44,262.00 35,685.00
Walla Walla 172,201.00 138,953.00
Racetrack
Retention
12,843.00
78,135.00
8,577.00
33,248.00
The Number Of Race Days And The Average Number Of Horses Per Race Are Included For 2004
 

Number
Race Days

Number Races # Horses Starting
Emerald Downs 90 813 5,894
Dayton 3 24 151
Sun Downs 10 86 545
Walla Walla 5 48 317
Waitsburg 2 19 121
Statewide Totals 110 990 7,028
Average Horses
Per Race
7.25
6.29
6.34
6.60
6.37
7.10
 
   
 

In 2004, advance deposit wagering was legalized (RCW 67.16.260). This form of pari-mutuel wagering allows a person to establish an account with a licensed service provider and place wagers via telephone, computer or other electronic means. Advance deposit wagering service providers are required to obtain a license from the Washington Horse Racing Commission and must pay a source market fee, which is a portion of each wager placed by a Washington account, to Washington’s horse racing industry.

A portion of the retention from track/OTB wagers and advance deposit wagers is reinvested in Washington's horse racing industry. The distribution to these sectors of the horse racing industry is provided in the annual report and according to several statues in Chapter 67.16 RCW. The retention (source market fee) from advance deposit wagering is distributed according to WAC 260-49-070.

 
 
   

Copyright© 2005 Washington Horse Racing Commission
6326 Martin Way Suite 209, Olympia, WA 98516
Telephone: 360.459.6462  Fax: 360.459.6461
Use of this site is subject to the laws of the state of Washington.
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