Bill
HB 5464
WV Certified Thoroughbred program creates a Development Fund with targeted purse bonuses and restricted races to boost WV racing, breeding, and jobs.
Purpose and intent
- HB 5464 amends West Virginia Code to create and define a framework for West Virginia Certified Thoroughbred horses and related restricted races, with the overall aim of promoting statewide thoroughbred racing, breeding, and related jobs and development through targeted purse supplements, restricted races, and accreditation standards.
- The bill establishes criteria for what constitutes a West Virginia Certified Thoroughbred and sets eligibility rules to participate in WV-certified/restricted racing opportunities and funds.
Key provisions and changes
1) Definitions and eligibility (Section §19-23-3)
- Introduces “West Virginia Certified Thoroughbred” (WVCT) as a registered thoroughbred that:
- Is registered with the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
- Has resided in West Virginia for six consecutive months (prior to its third year-old year) with a 30-day grace window for sales shipments or veterinary services.
- Is subject to affidavit/certification/audit by the WV Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
- Is ineligible for WV Accredited Stakes Races, WV Breeders Classics, and the WV Thoroughbred Fund.
- Defines related terms (accredited West Virginia sire, breeder, raiser, owner, etc.) and clarifies WVCT status in relation to other WV racing programs.
2) West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund; distributions and restricted/purse provisions (Section §19-23-13b)
- Creates a mechanism for directing funds into a separate accounting structure for the Thoroughbred Development Fund (TDF) and per-licensee accounts, with specific allocation rules and annual reporting.
- Details annual distribution rules for breeders/raisers, sire owners, and purse supplements, including:
- Breeder/raiser bonuses: 60% of the available fund for breeders/raisers, with distributions based on each accredited horse’s share of total accredited purses; capped at the first $100,000 of any purse.
- Sire owner bonuses: 15% of the fund for sire owners, distributed proportionally to progeny earnings; cap of 35% of accredited earnings per sire; first $100,000 of purses subject to the cap.
- Restricted purse supplements: 25% of the fund, allocated by the horse’s share of accredited earnings; cap of 35% of the horse’s total accredited earnings; first $100,000 of any purse subject to cap.
- Establishes funding of restricted races via dedicated pools and general purse funds, with the possibility of additional funding from the West Virginia Accredited Race Fund.
- Specifies that annual distributions occur on February 15 for the prior year.
3) Restricted races and WV Certified participation (Subsection (f))
- Requires each pari-mutuel thoroughbred track to offer at least one restricted race per racing day, with potential for up to three restricted races per day for tracks with long-standing participation in the development fund.
- WV Certified Thoroughbreds are eligible for restricted races (purse money only), with accredited thoroughbreds given preference in oversubscribed fields.
- A three-member committee administers restricted races at each track (racing secretary, a breeder/owner/trainer representative, WV Thoroughbred Breeders Association representative).
- Funding for restricted races comes from general purse funds and the WV Accredited Race Fund, with caps for older tracks.
4) West Virginia Accredited Race Fund and WV-bred participation (Subsections (h)-(i))
- Establishes eligibility criteria for breeders and WV-bred foals to qualify for the Accredited Race Fund.
- Credits preference for entry to WV accredited thoroughbreds at participating tracks beginning July 1, 2001.
5) Programmatic timeline and administration
- Effective upon passage for WV Certified provisions (as noted in §19-23-13b).
- Annual reporting, budgeting, and commission oversight outlined, including commission authority over schedules and purse amounts.
Eligible participants and affected entities
- West Virginia thoroughbred breeders, raisers, sires, owners, and WV-bred horses.
- Licensed thoroughbred racetracks and racing associations in WV.
- WV Thoroughbred Breeders Association and related industry stakeholders.
Timeline notes
- Several provisions reference pre-2001/2005 vesting for certain funds; primary new provisions, including WV Certified definitions and development fund structures, take effect upon passage of the bill, with ongoing annual distributions and reporting thereafter.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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