The NTRA recently hosted a federal legislative briefing at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds in Saratoga Springs, N Y. Numerous industry participants attended the event including owners, breeders, racetrack operators, consignors and others.

NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop and The Alpine Group’s Greg Means, the NTRA’s lead lobbyist in Washington, spoke to the group about a variety topics including:

–        Upcoming national elections and their potential impact on the Thoroughbred industry;

–        The prospects for passage of federal internet poker legislation and ways that the NTRA is actively participating in the process to protect industry interests;

–        Horse owner tax equity measures;

–        Horseplayer withholding and IRS reporting measures;

–        The status of legislation introduced in Congress calling for a federal ban on performance enhancing drugs in horse racing including alternative approaches to the existing legislation; and

–        Developments in the areas of Immigration reform and disaster relief.

Updates on legislative matters can be found online at www.SupportHorseRacing.org and in this space every Thursday. Contact Joeb@ntra.com to request timely updates directly via e-mail.