Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Teller All Gone Horseracing Deregulation Act of 2015”.
Teller All Gone Horseracing Deregulation Act of 2015
A BILL
To deregulate interstate commerce with respect to parimutuel wagering on horseracing, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Findings; background
In general— Congress makes the following findings:
Congress enacted the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–515; 15 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) to regulate interstate commerce with respect to parimutuel wagering on horseracing in order to further the horseracing industry of the United States.
In 2000, Congress amended such Act to allow parimutuel wagering by telephone and over the Internet, a gambling privilege no other sport enjoys.
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in horseracing is widespread in the United States, where no uniform regulations exist with respect to the use of, and testing for, performance-enhancing drugs in interstate horseracing.
A 2012 New York Times investigation found that, on average, every week 24 horses die racing, a high equine fatality rate likely caused by the misuse of permitted medication and abuse of illegal drugs.
A 2013 horseracing industry study found that a large majority of parimutuel wagering participants avoid wagering at certain tracks and when certain trainers compete because they assume illegal drug use affects race results.
Total parimutuel wagering on Thoroughbred horseracing in the United States declined 30 percent from 2002 to 2014.
The Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 has not met its original policy goal of furthering the United States horseracing industry.
Background for including the name of a racehorse in short title— The purpose in providing the short title used in this Act is to honor horses who died while competing in races with interstate, off-track wagering authorized under the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978. Teller All Gone was an American Quarter Horse who last competed as a two-year old on September 3, 2011. A race observer noted that Teller All Gone bid, dueled, and lugged in before going wrong and falling after the finish line.
Sec. 3 Repeal of Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978
In general— The Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–515; 15 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) is hereby repealed.
Conforming amendments— Section 5362(10) of chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—
in subparagraph (B)(iii)—
by striking subclause (I); and
by redesignating subclauses (II), (III), and (IV) as subclauses (I), (II), and (III), respectively;
in subparagraph (C)(iv)—
by striking subclause (I); and
by redesignating subclauses (II), (III), and (IV) as subclauses (I), (II), and (III), respectively;
by striking subparagraph (D); and
by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D).