Alabama § 11-65-31 - Purses for Horse Races and Greyhound Races.

§ 11-65-31. Purses for Horse Races and Greyhound Races.

From the moneys deposited in pari-mutuel pools for horse races which constitute the “takeout” deducted by a horse racing operator pursuant to Section 11-65-28(b), each horse racing operator shall apply an amount equal to seven percent of its total horse racing handle to provide purse moneys for horse races conducted by such operator. Prior to the commencement of any race meeting, the horse racing operator conducting such meeting shall estimate the amount of its horse racing handle to be derived from such meeting. Based upon such estimate, the horse racing operator shall adopt a schedule providing for a reasonable allocation of purse moneys over the period of the anticipated race meeting. Any such schedule may be amended from time to time during the course of a race meeting if it becomes apparent that the operator’s actual horse racing handle for such race meeting will not match its original estimate.

Each horse racing operator shall provide the commission licensing such operator with periodic reports respecting the amounts applied by such operator to provide purse moneys for horse races. If at the close of any race meeting it is determined that the operator conducting such meeting failed to apply an amount equal to seven percent of its horse racing handle for such meeting to provide purse moneys, then any excess shall be deducted from, and any deficiency shall be added to, the amount which such operator shall be required to provide as purse moneys for horse races conducted as part of its next succeeding race meeting.

The amount of purses to be paid with respect to greyhound races conducted by any greyhound racing operator shall be determined by such operator through negotiation with the kennel owners providing the greyhounds for such races. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to require, or to permit the commission by regulation or order to require, any minimum level of purses for greyhound racing, whether based on a percentage of the greyhound racing handle or any other benchmark, or to limit, or to permit the commission by regulation or order to limit, the amount that a greyhound racing operator may agree to pay for such purposes.