Horse PAC, the bipartisan political action committee of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), today announced that 41 of the 44 federal candidates it supported during the 2011/2012 election cycle won their races outright on Tuesday. One additional result for a PAC-supported candidate hinges on a December runoff race.
Horse PAC disbursed $416,500 to candidates in cycle – including $257,000 in direct contributions to individual candidates and an additional $159,500 to leadership and other PACs supporting both Democratic and Republican candidates.
Candidates and PACs in 25 states received Horse PAC funds in 2011/2012. Kentucky-based candidates and PACs received the majority of funds – $85,000 over the two-year cycle, followed by New York ($54,500), California ($30,000), Louisiana ($27,500) and Florida, Texas and Michigan (all at $25,000).
“The non-partisan Horse PAC is the only PAC that looks out specifically for the interests of the entire Thoroughbred industry,” said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA. “Its size, as measured by donation totals, is considerable—even when compared to PACs of the largest sports leagues and gaming organizations in the United States. By focusing on members of key committees and on candidates who have significant horse racing constituencies, Horse PAC is able to ensure that our industry’s interests are well represented in Washington.”
Horse PAC supports candidates who serve on the committees that oversee livestock and agricultural issues, Internet gaming, taxation, immigration and the Interstate Horseracing Act; serve in leadership roles; understand horse racing’s issues; have racetracks, breeding farms, training centers or ADWs in their states; are members of the Congressional Horse Caucus; or are emerging leaders meriting early support in their legislative careers.
Since its founding in 2002, Horse PAC has disbursed nearly $2.5 million to federal political candidates and parties. For more information visit www.SupportHorseRacing.org.