The Thoroughbred Owners of California have joined forces with the Jockeys’ Guild to testify at an open hearing Wednesday. They were there at the state capital building in Sacramento to lobby on behalf of the thoroughbred industry - they want economic consideration while the new Indian gaming compacts are being negotiated and signed. They are requesting that a percentage of the slot machine revenue from the Indian casinos be turned over to them. 

They feel that the Indian Casinos are gaining the right to build and expand on Indian Reservations, and these compacts can be as long as 40 years. They want the compensation for the expansion, as they feel that the larger the casinos are allowed to get, the more slot machines they bring in, and that adds to the number of people that will no longer be coming to the racetracks. 

Laffit Pincay, Jr, a Racing Hall of Fame jockey said, “I told them the industry is in trouble. The Indians are controlling the gambling with the slot machines and everything, and I think they should share part...it would help California racing, it would help the jockeys, it would help everybody.”

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