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Ohio Bill for Additional Racing Days Still Aliye Is Now in Hands of Joint House And Senate Conference Group Special to Daily Racing Form COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 31. Although the General Assembly has completed its regular session, the fate of the proposal to permit the state racing commission to grant tracks under its supervision additional racing days still is undetermined. The bill, in the hands of a joint House and Senate conference committee, is one of. four measure still alive in the Assembly. However, observers regard the possibility that the committee will approve the proposal and have it ready for final action by the lawmakers when they report back here June 18 to complete unfinished business as remote. The state board, under the terms of the bill, could grant as many as 44 additional racing days to a track during the April-through-October season if and when it deems such action "in the public interest." Also under consideration is a plan that would open the door for the transfer of one tracks dates to another course. Backers of the bill claim that unless the measure is approved, Ohio stands to lose considerable revenue to the state of Kentucky after the contemplated new track is constructed at Florence, just across the Ohio River - from Cincinnati. The measure, if enacted into law, would clear the way for River Downs, in the Cincinnati area, to operate for as many as 88 days during the racing season. Members of the conference committee deciding the destiny of the bill are Representatives F. K. Cassel, Wyandot County; Continued on Page Fifty-Fiya Ohio Bill for Additional Racing Days Still Alive Is Now in Hands of Joint House And Senate Conference Group Continued from Page Three Clarence L. Wetzel, Columbian County, and Charles H. Jones, Butler County, and Senators Ted Gray, Clark County; Oakley Collins, Lawrence County, and Arthur Blake, Belmont County. Blake is the only Democrat in the group, the others being Republicans. Meanwhile, the bill that would increase the state tax on pari-mutuel wagering one-half of 1 per cent awaits only the signatures of legislative leaders and Gov. C. William ONeill before being enacted into law. It has been approved by both the House and Senate. Signing of measures passed by the legislature is scheduled for June 18. The extra money raised by the terms of this measure would be earmarked for harness race purses at Ohio fairs. A bill that would create special, temporary liquor licenses for race track concessionaires died in the Senate Rules Com-, mittee. Track concessionaires now, are required to be licensed for the full year if they serve liquor or beer, although the license is utilized for only the duration of a meeting, a maximum of 44 days or nights. The bill killed by the Senate Rules Committee would establish a reduced fee for the temporary licenses.
