Racing’s attitude adjustment

The Texas Racing Commission has 90 days to get a new attitude.

Or else Gov. Greg Abbott can get three new racing commissioners.

The Racing Commission’s job is to oversee racing’s ‘safety, integrity and fairness” on behalf of Texans, not to advocate for slot-like video gaming disguised as “historical” racing replays.

The commission is two votes short of reversing its recent decision to add historical racing games at tracks without the OK from the Legislature.

As it happens, two commissioners are overdue for replacement and another seat is vacant.

It was racing commissioners’ fault that Texas racing was pushed to the brink Tuesday, when racetracks and off-track betting parlors were closed for a day and revenue was lost while state officials withheld funding over the proposed games.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and state Senate Finance Committee chairman Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, have released $186,000 so the commission can reopen for 90 days.

“Hopefully during this time the agency can reconsider its current course,” Nelson said.

If racing commissioners were not clear about who’s in charge, now they know.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Racing’s attitude adjustment."