HISA costs, ‘unreasonable’ regs force Fonner Park to cease sending its signal out of state
Fonner Park press release (Fonner Park photo by Ellis Collins)
GRAND ISLE, Neb. — Until further notice, Fonner Park has cancelled offering its interstate wagering feed. Betting on Fonner Park races in the United States outside of Nebraska will not be provided via a pari-mutuel tote feed. This is a direct result of the complications with the federal implementation of HISA (the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority). Fonner Park chose this drastic measure because of the many uncertainties associated with HISA in Nebraska, and the nation.
“We’re not some gyp joint, we’re a TRA racetrack. And for seventy years we’ve provided for our horses, horsemen and horseplayers. It’s a shame it’s come to this. “
Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak
“The unreasonable and overreaching HISA rules and regulations have presented demands and obstacles that a racetrack our size cannot achieve or endure,” said Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak.
HISA maintains that racetracks which do not voluntarily become a covered HISA racetrack, with covered backstretch personnel, shall not be permitted to provide interstate wagering. The new increased costs to Fonner Park, plus the conflict with enforcing the variance between state and federal rules of racing, were determined unsurmountable to overcome for Nebraska’s flagship Thoroughbred racetrack.
“Fonner Park is a plaintiff in a large, national, multi-plaintiff lawsuit against HISA, but that lawsuit has not advanced with sufficient clarity to ensure that HISA rules would not be applicable to us. Challenging federal regulations is a gamble my board has currently chosen not to make, as this would leave Fonner Park splayed open and at the mercy of a lengthy judicial process and costly legal circumstances that would significantly damage Fonner Park and our horsemen. We’re not some gyp joint, we’re a TRA racetrack. And for seventy years we’ve provided for our horses, horsemen and horseplayers. It’s a shame it’s come to this,” said Kotulak.
