The National Thoroughbred Racing Association uses political advocacy in Washington, D.C. to protect and grow the horseracing and breeding industries. 

 

As a 501(c) (6) membership organization and trade association, the NTRA lobbies and raises Political Action Committee funds through Horse PAC to help federal candidates who understand our industry's issues.

 

The Alpine Group, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm, and the American Horse Council, representing more than 130 equine breeds, assist the NTRA in its advocacy efforts on behalf of the Thoroughbred industry.

 

Federal lobbying makes our industry more competitive.  The NTRA seeks tax legislation that benefits industry stake holder groups such as horse owners, breeders, racetracks, advance deposit wagering service providers and horseplayers. As a trade association, the NTRA works proactively with other industry groups to address matters such as equine health and safety, unwanted horses, medication, horse identification and sales integrity.

 

At the time of its 1998 unveiling, the NTRA's legislative agenda focused on securing enabling legislation for account wagering in select states.

 

This single pursuit was expanded to include issues more national in scope and far-reaching for the entire industry.

Specifically, the NTRA became involved with national account wagering protection, formation of an industry-specific political action committee, international simulcasting issues, tax benefits for horse owners, breeders, racetracks and players, disaster relief for horse breeders, medication issues in professional sports, including horse racing and, most recently, far-reaching safety and integrity issues. 

 

Legislation that would eliminate the automatic 25 percent federal withholding tax on pari-mutuel winnings of $5,000 or more if the odds are at least 300 times the amount wagered was introduced on April 28 by Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY).   The “Pari-Mutuel Conformity and Equality Act of 2009” - or PACE Act (H.R. 2140) would end this unfair taxation of horseplayers. 

 

In May 2008, NTRA secured passage of legislation that was first introduced in the 109th Congress. The Equine Equity Act (EEA), part of the broader Farm Bill, allows for accelerated depreciation of racehorses from seven years (in most cases) to 36 months over four tax years. The EEA was effective January 1, 2009. Its initial application extends through the five-year term of the Farm Bill and may be renewed with the next Farm Bill (2012).

 

After 10 years of attempts, Congress passed an Internet gaming bill that effectively banned the use of credit or other forms of payment for any type of online gaming except intrastate and tribal gaming and pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing, as authorized by the amended Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA).  

 

Legislation to provide horse owners and breeders significant tax benefits was introduced by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The Equine Equity Act (EEA), introduced as Senate Bill 1528, was later introduced in the House by Representative Ron Lewis (R-KY) as H.R. 4151. The EEA included changes in the depreciation schedule and capital gains holding period for racehorses, benefiting horse owners and breeders. These two tax components of the legislation failed to move during the 109th Congress; however, accelerated by the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, horse breeders became eligible for federal disaster assistance during droughts and other farm-related emergencies with a provision in the Agriculture Appropriations bill. This legislation was originally included in EEA and put horse breeders on equal terms with producers of most types of livestock with respect to disaster-assistance programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 

International simulcasting received a boost when the NTRA secured passage of legislation to eliminate a 30% withholding tax on winnings by foreign nationals wagering into U.S. pools.  This allowed U.S. tracks to accept wagers from countries such as Canada, which previously had been forced to create their own wagering pools on U.S. racing. As of 2007, all racing jurisdictions are now offering co-pooled wagering with Canada. 

 

To promote and facilitate the accumulation of voluntary contributions from members of the NTRA for the support of political parties and candidates for elective office in the United States, the NTRA activated the Federal Political Action Committee (PAC) now known as Horse PAC.  It has become the nation's largest gaming PAC in terms of annual contributions and is dedicated to the support of candidates who understand horseracing's issues.

 

Industry foresight led to an important amendment to the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA).  Along with the American Horse Council, lobbyists and other industry organizations, the NTRA helped secure the IHA amendment that legalized pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing via the Internet. Years later, this move made the IHA a focal point of legislation designed to ban online wagering.