Texas Racing Commission:

An Inventory of Records at the Texas State Archives, 1988-2000

Agency History

The original Texas Racing Commission was created in 1933 (House Bill 12, 43rd Legislature, 1st Called Session). It was composed of three members: the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture (an elected state official), the Tax Commissioner of the State of Texas (appointed by the governor), and a third member--designated as the chairman--appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate. This chairman must have been an owner and breeder of thoroughbred livestock for at least two years. The commission regulated horse racing in the State of Texas. Apparently the commission was underfunded; after an emergency appropriation by the legislature in 1937, no further mention of the Racing Commission in the state's laws could be found.

The current Texas Racing Commission was created by the Texas Racing Act of 1986 (Senate Bill 15, 69th Legislature, 2nd Called Session), further approved by voters in a statewide referendum in November 1987. It is made up of six regular members and two ex-officio members. Originally this included two veterinarians (one small-animal, one large-animal), two greyhound-racing specialists, and two horse-racing specialists, all appointed by the governor; and two ex officio members: the Chair of the Public Safety Commission and the Comptroller of Public Accounts. In 1997 (House Bill 1445, 75th Legislature), the composition of the Commission changed to include four members representing the general public, and two members with special knowledge or experience related to horse racing and greyhound racing respectively, plus the same two ex-officio members. Responsibilities of the racing commission include encouraging the horse-breeding and greyhound-breeding industries; awarding licenses for pari-mutuel racetracks in Texas; providing strict regulation and control of pari-mutuel betting with respect to horse and greyhound racing; supervising each race meeting conducted in Texas; and adjudicating disciplinary matters arising from the enforcement of laws associated with racing and pari-mutuel betting. As of 1992 three greyhound racetracks and four horse racetracks were in operation in Texas, and the commission had approved licenses for six other horse racetracks that were under construction. By January 2003, three greyhound racetracks were operational in Texas (in Corpus Christi, LaMarque, and Harlingen), and seven horse racetracks were licensed (in Fredericksburg, Grand Prairie, Manor, Selma (near San Antonio), Houston, Austin (or Travis County), and Amarillo--the last two so far non-operational).

As of April 2003, the agency had 80 full-time equivalent employees, and was divided into the following four divisions and eight departments: Executive Division (Enforcement Department and General Counsel); Administration Division (Finance and Accounting Department and Information Services Department); Racing Division (Racing Department and Veterinary Department); and Pari-Mutuels and Licensing Division (Pari-Mutuels and Auditing Department and Occupational Licensing Department).

(Sources: New Handbook of Texas Online; Guide to Texas State Agencies, 11th edition; and Texas Racing Commission website, http://www.txrc.state.tx.us/.)

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Scope and Contents of the Records

These records include meeting files (transcripts, agenda, minutes, meeting materials, testimony cards, voting records, notices, audiocassettes, memoranda, correspondence, orders and agreed orders, licensee responses to motions, briefs, reports, rules and regulations, contracts, racetrack status reports, notices of public hearings, notes, and computer disks) and litigation files (correspondence, memoranda, court documents, resumes, student records, consulting service contracts, employment agreements, etc.). They comprise records of the Texas Racing Commission, dating 1988-2000. The meeting files document the work conducted at the meetings of the Racing Commission, specifically proceedings on rulemaking, proceedings on racetrack and occupational licenses, and general business, all pertaining to the functions of the commission in encouraging the horse-breeding and greyhound-breeding industries, awarding licenses for pari-mutuel racetracks in Texas, providing strict regulation and control of pari-mutuel betting with respect to horse and greyhound racing, supervising each race conducted in Texas, and adjudicating disciplinary matters arising from the enforcement of laws associated with racing and pari-mutuel betting. Litigation files further document this last function.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act exceptions, an archivist must review these records before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals information that may be excepted by the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an open records decision from the Attorney General on whether the records can be released. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten working days after receiving a request to make this determination. The Attorney General has 45 working days to render a decision. Alternately, the Archives can inform you of the nature of the potentially excepted information and if you agree, that information can be redacted or removed and you can access the remainder of the records.

Records series described in this finding aid have access restrictions specific to each of them. The terms of access are found following the series' descriptions.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Technical Requirements

Researchers wishing to access audiotapes or computer disks must contact the Archives Preservation Officer to obtain the necessary equipment.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Records, Texas Racing Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1998/192, 2001/120, 2002/050, 2002/132, 2004/081

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Racing Commission on June 26, 1998; April 2, 2001; October 24, 2001; May 14, 2002; and January 15, 2004.

Processing Information

Tony Black, August 2003, January 2004

Accruals

Additions to the meeting files are transferred to the Texas State Archives on a generally annual basis.

Other Formats for the Records

The agendas and Commission actions, as well as the transcripts, for past meetings are available electronically on the Texas Racing Commission's web site ( http://www.txrc.state.tx.us/new_agency/agendas/agenda-index.html#archive), beginning with the August 8, 2000 meeting.

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Detailed Description of the Records

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