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Race track manager says Racing Commission necessary BISMARCK, ND (NDPR) - The general manager of the North Dakota Horse Park in Fargo is urging a Legislative committee to rethink a bill to abolish the state Racing Commission.

Some lawmakers on the Administrative Rules Committee say the Racing Commission isn't following state law or legislative intent with its rules -- and they are suggesting getting rid of the Commission -- and transferring its duties to the state Gaming Commission.

Horse Park general manager Heather Benson says when South Dakota abolished its Racing Commission, the horse racing industry went downhill. She says she'd rather see lawmakers correct any problems and still have a separate commission.

"If I live in a town, and I have a police officer that I might not agree with on how he enforces a rule or what he's doing, I don't say, 'Hey, I don't agree with this -- let's get rid of the police department and turn it over to the fire department,'" Benson told the Committee. "It's probably not going to turn out well. Instead, I would work to make the police department work a little better."

The committee decided to hold off on further action -- because the state Auditor's office has just completed its audit of the Racing Commission, and legislators want to take a look at that audit.

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