Nebraska lawmaker makes another run at helping Nebraska’s horse racing industry

Another run at helping Neb. horse racing industry

LINCOLN, Neb. — A Nebraska lawmaker is making another run at helping the state’s ailing horse-racing industry.

On Friday, state Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber introduced a proposed constitutional amendment to the Legislature that would allow betting on televised, simulcast horse races at facilities approved at the county or city level.

Currently, simulcast betting is only allowed at horse tracks like Fonner Park in Grand Island.

Karpisek says that money generated from horse-race bets placed outside the state’s tracks would be used to help boost purses for races in Nebraska.

Decreased attendance at Nebraska horse races has led some to say the longtime sport is on the brink of disaster.

Last year, a bill from Karpisek to allow slot machines at horse tracks failed.