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News from Montana:

Horse racing unlikely to return in August - Missoula, MT - Jan. 1, 2012 - Horse racing went dark again at the Western Montana Fair in 2011, and the sky looks partly cloudy at best for 2012. No state race track can expect financial help from the Montana Board of Horse Racing, which is said to be more than half a million dollars in arrears and will suspend simulcast operations at least temporarily this week.

Simulcast betting on horse races to end in Montana - Dec. 30, 2011 - The Montana Board of Horse Racing is out of the simulcast racing business, and the state's seven off-track betting sites will be shut down indefinitely next week.

Livestock Department puts Montana Board of Horse Racing official on leave - HELENA - Dec. 10, 2011 - The executive secretary of the Montana Board of Horse Racing has been placed on paid administrative leave by the state Livestock Department. Put on indefinite leave Thursday was Ryan Sherman, the board's lone full-time employee. In the past, the board has hired seasonal staff to help with horse races in the summer.

Time to Lift Slaughter Ban - Washington, D.C. - Sept. 13, 2011 - Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced that Congress is one step closer to answering his call to end a ban on U.S. horse slaughter plants.

Third day of racing added - June 22, 2011 - Kalispell will have three days of horse racing in August, now that a day of stake races has been added in advance of the two days of racing planned during the Northwest Montana Fair.

Montana horse tracks deserve more exciting days - Billings, MT - May 13, 2011 - On the final day of the 2010 horse-racing meet at MetraPark’s Yellowstone Downs last September, over 5,000 spectators were gathered in the grandstand or lining the track’s rails on the sunny afternoon.

Short horse racing season begins Sunday in Miles City - May 6, 2011 - Hooves hit the ground on Sunday afternoon in Miles City as Montana’s live horse racing season gets under way — and trainer Robby Overturf of Joliet can’t wait.

No horse racing at 2011 Western Montana Fair; proponents focus on 2012 - Missoula, MT - May 4, 2011 - Too little time, too many maybes. For the fourth summer in five years, Missoula won't have horse racing in August at the Western Montana Fair. Instead, the focus will be on reviving the flailing sport for 2012.

Missoula in need of operator for races - MISSOULA, MT - April 22, 2011 - People looking to put money on ponies at the Western Montana Fair, may not get their chance this year. Steve Earle, Missoula County Fairgrounds Director, needs to find a new operator for the races by May 1, 2011.

Horse racing at Western Montana Fair hits snag - April 20, 2011 - The race is on to bring horse races back to the Western Montana Fair this year. They won't be getting out of the gates at Great Falls this summer, and Missoula has only a couple of weeks to come up with a new operator for its two-day August meet.

Horse racing at Montana ExpoPark shelved for 2011 - Great Falls, MT. - April 15, 2011 - There will be no horse racing this summer at Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls, where it traditionally was a popular attraction during the Montana State Fair.

Montana Board Of Horse Racing Pushes For Deprivatization - KALISPELL, MT. - Feb. 28, 2011 - The Montana Board of Horse Racing is pushing hard for Senate Bill 16. It allows for deprivatization of simulcast horse racing in Montana. That means big bucks could be staying in Montana instead of heading out of state.

Horse Racing On Tap Again for Fair - Kalispell, MT - February 27, 2011 - Local horse racing organizers recently met with the Flathead County Commission to discuss this year’s schedule and gauge county support for the races, laying initial groundwork for better cooperation during the fair.

MT Horse racing still on track, Funding scenario yet to be determine - Feb. 23, 2011 - Horse racing appears to have moved out of the starting gate for this year’s Northwest Montana Fair, even though it’s not clear yet how the funding will play out for two days of racing.

Private Horse Racing Group Calls For Support In Montana - KALISPELL, Mont. - Feb. 22, 2011 - In the Flathead, horse racing organizers are trying to hammer out a deal for this year with the Northwest Montana Fair Board.

Parties interested, possible racing in Montana - Missoula, MT - Feb. 17, 2011 - An unidentified Montana horseman has expressed interest in staging race meets at Missoula and Great Falls next summer after the departure of Eric Spector and Montana Entertainment.

Montana simulcast bill hearing set for February 8 - February 3, 2011 - Montana Senate Bill 16, a bill to revise the authority of the Montana Board of Horse Racing and requirements regarding simulcasts, has cleared the Montana State Senate and is on its way to the House.

Montana Horseracing organizer gets nation attention - Jan. 10, 2011 - About four months before the 2010 Northwest Montana Fair, the tough-as-nails Kalispell horsewoman stepped into the ring with a formidable task: restart horse racing at the fair after a five-year hiatus.

Missoula fair can't find horse racing producer till defunct company's lease expires - Dec. 15, 2010 - The demise of Montana Entertainment LLC appears imminent, but Missoula County hasn't started courting anyone else to produce horse racing at the 2011 Western Montana Fair.

Company's loss of simulcast license could kill Great Falls horse racing - Dec. 8, 2010 - California-based Montana Entertainment LLC has agreed to surrender its license to operate simulcast betting on horse racing in Montana, which leaves an uncertain future for live horse racing at the Montana State Fair in Great Falls.

Montana Entertainment LLC out of business - Dec. 6, 2010 - Montana Entertainment LLC is out of money and out of the horse racing business in Montana.

Simulcast wagering on in Montana as Breeders' Cup races begin - Montana's six off-track betting sites received a last-minute connection to the Breeders' Cup horse races Friday, apparently signaling an emergency transition from a private simulcast provider to the Montana Board of Horse Racing.

New manager sees big potential for fairgrounds - Flathead County, MT - Oct. 25, 2010 - “Horse racing poses a challenge for long-term viability,” Campbell said. “We want racing to continue.”