Oregon Revised Statutes
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: “Breaks” means the odd cents remaining after the payoff prices have been computed in accordance with ORS 462.140 (3). “Calendar year” means a 12-month year, January 1 through December 31. “Commission” means the Oregon Racing Commission. “Continuous race meet” includes any exhibition of anima…
A person may not hold a race meet without having first obtained and having in full force and effect a license therefor issued by the Oregon Racing Commission. A trainer, driver, jockey, apprentice jockey, horse owner, dog owner, exercise person, agent, authorized agent, jockey’s agent, stable foreman, groom, valet, veterinarian, horseshoer, steward, stable …
No licensee who accepts an engagement or employment or undertakes activities in preparation for or in connection with a race meet shall voluntarily terminate or discontinue the engagement, employment or activities of the licensee or otherwise refuse to cooperate or participate, unless the licensee gives the Oregon Racing Commission notice in writing of the i…
No person is eligible to operate a race meet with a license issued under this chapter unless the person is the owner or controls the possession of a properly constructed race track suitable for the class of races which are proposed to be conducted at such race track and improved with safe and suitable grandstands, equipped with reasonably sanitary accommodat…
Race meet licenses granted by the Oregon Racing Commission shall be limited to: Licenses for horse and mule race meets (Class A). Licenses for greyhound race meets (Class B). Except as the commission otherwise may provide by rule, no licensee shall be granted licenses of both classes nor shall licenses be issued for more than one class of racing on the sa…
Every person making application for a license to hold a race meet shall file the application with the Oregon Racing Commission. The application shall set forth the time, place and number of days the applicant desires the meet to continue, together with the applicant’s estimate of the daily average payment that the applicant will pay to the state upon the gro…
The Oregon Racing Commission may require of every applicant for a license to hold a race meet, except the Oregon State Fair and all county fairs, that has not, within five fiscal years prior to making an application for a license to hold a race meet, operated a race meet in the county or the city in which application for a license to hold a race meet is made…
A race meet licensee designated in subsection (2) of this section shall make payments as follows: License fee – $25 per fiscal year payable to the Oregon Racing Commission. A percentage of gross mutuel wagering shall be paid to the commission as follows: If the race meet is for horses or mules – one percent. If the race meet is for greyhounds – 1.6 perce…
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
All licensees of race meets for horses, except those subject to ORS 462.057, shall make payments as follows: A license fee of $100 per racing day to the Oregon Racing Commission. One percent of gross mutuel wagering to the commission. A percentage of gross mutuel wagering to a purse account, in such amounts as the race meet licensee and the horse owners m…
The Oregon Racing Commission may require any horsemen’s association, that receives payments pursuant to ORS 462.057 and 462.062, to submit a bond or an irrevocable letter of credit submitted by an insured institution as defined in ORS 706.008 in an amount not to exceed the sum of the estimated payments to be received by the association. The bond or letter of…
All licensees of race meets except those subject to ORS 462.057 and 462.062 shall make payments as follows: License fee – $100 per racing day, payable to the Oregon Racing Commission. Percentage of gross mutuel wagering payable to the commission – 1.6 percent. Percentage of gross mutuel wagering on greyhound races payable to the Oregon Greyhound Breeders …
A licensee that conducts mutuel wagering pursuant to ORS 462.155 at the licensee’s race course on horse races previously held shall make annual payments as follows: $200,000, as modified by subsection (2) of this section, to the Oregon Racing Commission. $20,000, as modified by subsection (2) of this section, to a purse account that may be used only to sup…
The Oregon Racing Commission may adopt rules establishing license fees for persons described in ORS 462.020 (2), not to exceed $150 per year. Prior to adopting a rule that establishes a fee for a license, the commission shall review the fees charged for similar licenses in other states. The commission also may charge a reasonable fee for claiming certificate…
As used in this section, “cash voucher” means a receipt showing the amount paid into a wagering system prior to placing a wager. Every licensee who conducts a race meet for horses shall carry on the books for each race meet an account to be known as the Cash Vouchers Account showing the total amount due on outstanding cash vouchers not presented for wager o…
Every licensee who conducts a race meet shall carry on the books for each race meet an account to be known as the Unclaimed Winnings Account showing the total amount due on outstanding winning mutuel wagering tickets and refund tickets not presented for payment. All funds in the Unclaimed Winnings Account shall be retained by the licensee and deposited in a …
The Oregon Racing Commission may refuse to issue to or renew the license of any applicant if it has reasonable ground to believe that the applicant: Has been suspended or ruled off a recognized course in another jurisdiction by the racing board or commission thereof. Is not of good repute and moral character. Does not have, when previously licensed, a goo…
The Oregon Racing Commission may exclude from any and all race courses any person whom the commission deems detrimental to the best interest of racing or any person who willfully violates any provision of this chapter or any rule or order issued by the commission or any person who has been found guilty of violating any laws of this state, another state or th…
The Oregon Racing Commission may revoke, suspend or refuse to renew the license of any licensee upon any of the grounds upon which the commission could refuse to issue a license, as provided in ORS 462.075, or of any licensee who has been convicted by the commission of a violation of this chapter or any rule made pursuant thereto, or who fails to pay to the …
The State of Oregon hereby preempts the imposition of taxes on or measured by income on, and the regulation of, race meets. Except for taxes levied under ORS 267.010 to 267.394, the license fee and tax provided in this chapter for a race meet licensed thereunder shall be in lieu of: All other licenses and privilege taxes or charges by the state or any coun…
For the protection of the public, and all members thereof, the exhibitors and visitors, every race meet licensee shall carry public liability insurance written on an approved form by a company licensed to do business in Oregon and in an amount approved by the Oregon Racing Commission. Every person licensed to conduct a race meet shall provide and deliver to…
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
The Oregon Racing Commission shall determine the number and classes of race meets to be held in any fiscal year, and the total number of racing dates to be granted to a licensee subject to provisions of ORS 462.062 and 462.067. Not more than 350 days of racing, exclusive of racing days authorized to designated licensees pursuant to subsection (5) of this sec…
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter: The Oregon Quarter Horse Racing Association, Incorporated, and the Oregon Division Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, may each be granted up to 15 days of racing per fiscal year at locations approved by the Oregon Racing Commission. Such racing must be sponsored by the Oregon Quarter Horse …
For the purpose of encouraging the breeding and enhancing the quality, within the state, of thoroughbred race horses, at least one race of each day’s meet shall consist exclusively of Oregon bred thoroughbred horses.
For the purpose of encouraging greyhound breeding within the state and enhancing the quality of Oregon bred greyhounds, all licensees of race meets for greyhounds shall conduct at least one race consisting exclusively of Oregon bred greyhounds at each live racing performance. If there is not a sufficient number of qualifying Oregon bred greyhounds to fill th…
A person may not conduct or commit, attempt or conspire to conduct or commit pool selling, bookmaking, or circulate handbooks, or bet or wager on any licensed race meet, other than by the mutuel method. All moneys wagered in Oregon must be accounted for through a computerized mutuel wagering system in use by an operating race meet in this state and approved …
In addition to mutuel wagering otherwise authorized by this chapter, account wagering may be conducted upon such conditions as the Oregon Racing Commission determines appropriate. The commission may authorize only a race meet licensee who is the holder of a license issued under ORS 462.057, 462.062 or 462.067 to conduct account wagering. As used in this sec…
Notwithstanding ORS 167.108 to 167.164, a race meet licensee, with the prior approval of the Oregon Racing Commission, may conduct handicapping contests for race meet patrons. Such contests may include, but are not limited to, competitions for prizes for the highest percentage of correct selection of the order of finish of animals from among predetermined ra…
The mutuel pool for a live horse race or a previously held horse race may: In addition to any amounts authorized under ORS 462.720, include amounts carried forward from the mutuel pool of one or more previous races that were subject to mutuel wagering; and Be carried forward and included in the mutuel pool of subsequent races that are subject to mutuel wag…
If during any race meet conducted under this chapter, there is an underpayment of the amount actually due to any wagerer, the amount of such underpayment shall revert and belong to the state and be paid to the Oregon Racing Commission and become a part of its fund and shall not be retained by the licensee under whose license such race is held. However, if a…
The Oregon Racing Commission may allow a race meet operator that holds a Class A license to conduct mutuel wagering at the licensee’s race course on horse races previously held if: The races were actual events held at race courses during race meets; The races were subject to mutuel wagering at the time the races were originally held; and The race meets at…
As used in this section, “historical animal racing” means animal races that were previously held. A mutuel wager on historical animal racing may be placed only from a physical race course of a licensee. A mutuel wager on historical animal racing may not be placed using an electronic device unless the device is owned or leased by the operator of the race co…
Every race meet held in this state contrary to this chapter is declared to be a public nuisance and may be summarily abated.
The rules of the Oregon Racing Commission shall apply to all race meets held by county fair associations and shall be enforced by the officers of each association as to race meets held on its grounds.
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
The Oregon Racing Commission may require as a condition for the issuance of a license to an animal owner or trainer that the owner or trainer establish to the satisfaction of the commission that the owner or trainer: Is contributing to the State Industrial Accident Fund and is complying with the provisions of ORS chapter 656 with respect to the occupation a…
No person under 18 years of age shall enter upon a race course at any time where races are being conducted in which wagering is permitted, except: When accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older who is the person’s parent, guardian or spouse; or When persons 14 years of age or older are in the performance of a duty incident to employment. Notwithsta…
A licensee conducting a race meet, before selling a mutuel wagering ticket or receipt to any person about whom there is any reasonable doubt of the person having reached the age of 18 years, shall require such person to make a written statement of age and furnish evidence of the true age and identity of the person. The written statement of age shall be on a …
The Oregon Racing Commission by rule may require that chemical analysis be made of the urine, saliva, blood or other body substances of animals participating in race meets or persons required to obtain a license pursuant to this chapter. The cost of such a test shall be paid by the commission. The costs of photo patrol of races which the commission may requ…
There is created the Oregon Racing Commission to consist of five commissioners who shall be citizens, residents and electors of this state. Upon the expiration of the term of any member the Governor shall appoint a successor for a term of four calendar years and until the successor is appointed and qualified. All appointments of members of the commission b…
The members of the Oregon Racing Commission are entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in ORS 292.495.
Vacancies in the office of commissioner shall be filled by appointment to be made by the Governor for the unexpired term. Any commissioner may be removed by the Governor for cause after a public hearing. Notice of the hearing shall fix the time and place for the hearing and shall specify the charges. Copy of the notice shall be served on the commissioner by…
Each member of the Oregon Racing Commission shall take and subscribe to an oath of office of the same form as that prescribed by law for the elective state offices.
The Oregon Racing Commission shall organize by electing one of its members chairperson and one vice chairperson. The commission shall appoint an executive director, who may be a member of the commission or an employee of the commission in another capacity, a chief state steward and such other employees as are necessary in the performance of the commission’s…
All money payable to the Oregon Racing Commission shall be deposited in the General Fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the Oregon Racing Commission Account. This account is appropriated continuously to the commission for the purposes authorized by law. The commission may maintain an office and shall keep detailed records of all meetings and of all …
The Oregon Racing Commission is subject to the provisions of ORS 291.201 to 291.222, including but not limited to the provisions of those sections relating to changes and revisions by the Governor in agency request budgets. The commission and its officers and employees are subject to the provisions of ORS 291.232 to 291.260 and 291.990.
The Oregon Racing Commission shall license, regulate and supervise all race meets held in this state and cause the various places where race meets are to be held to be visited and inspected at least once each fiscal year. The commission shall be the sole judge of whether or not a race meet shall be licensed. The application for a race meet license shall spe…
In administering the provisions of this chapter, any member of the Oregon Racing Commission, or an agent authorized by the commission, has power on behalf of the commission to: Issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records and documents relating to matters before the commission. Administer oaths. Take or cause to be …
No member, employee or appointee of the Oregon Racing Commission, or the immediate family member of such a person, may: Own or have any other financial interest in any animal participating in any race meet in Oregon. Own or have any other financial interest in any race meet, public training track or race course in Oregon. Bet or wager, in any manner, on a…
The Oregon Racing Commission may: Cooperate with the racing commissions or boards of other jurisdictions and with racing organizations in enforcing laws regulating racing, in exchanging information relating to racing, in studying and detecting drugs and in carrying out programs for the betterment of racing. Establish a library of materials relating to raci…
Enforcement agents, designated as such by the Oregon Racing Commission, shall have the authority to serve and execute warrants of arrest and search warrants in the manner provided by law.
On or before February 1 of each year, the Oregon Racing Commission shall provide a report to the Legislative Assembly in the form required under ORS 192.245 on greyhound race wagers made in Oregon. The report must include: The amount wagered on greyhound races in Oregon in the last calendar year; The total amount of state revenue derived from greyhound ra…
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
If a person makes a report to the Oregon Racing Commission of a violation or potential violation of a statute, rule or order relating to racing, the identity of the person making the report is confidential and is not subject to disclosure as a public record under ORS 192.311 to 192.478. A person making a report described in subsection (1) of this section ma…
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
As used in ORS 462.301 to 462.340: “Back” means to wager on a selected outcome occurring in a given market. “Exchange” means a system operated by an exchange wagering licensee in which the exchange wagering licensee maintains one or more markets in which persons may back or lay a selected outcome. “Exchange revenues” means all charges and fees assessed or…
The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that the horse racing industry is economically important to this state and that the general welfare of the residents of this state will be promoted by the advancement of horse racing and related projects and facilities in this state. It is the intent of the Legislative Assembly, by authorizing exchange wagering in…
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule to the contrary, exchange wagering by residents of this state and other jurisdictions on the results of horse races conducted in this state or other jurisdictions are lawful, provided that: Exchange wagering may be conducted only by an exchange wagering licensee through an exchange wagering system pursuant …
A person may not open an exchange wagering account or place an exchange wager except in accordance with federal law, ORS 462.301 to 462.340 and the rules adopted pursuant to ORS 462.301 to 462.340. Only a person with a valid exchange wagering account may place wagers through an exchange. To establish an exchange wagering account, a person must be: At leas…
The Oregon Racing Commission may issue an exchange wagering license to an applicant that meets the requirements of this section and the rules adopted by the commission pursuant to this section. An applicant shall submit an application in a form and manner determined by the commission by rule and shall include information about the applicant’s security polic…
An exchange wagering licensee may not accept an exchange wager, or series of exchange wagers, from an exchange wagering account holder if the results of the exchange wager or series of exchange wagers would create a liability for the holder in excess of moneys on the deposit in the holder’s exchange wagering account. An exchange wagering licensee may suspen…
Subject to the approval of the Oregon Racing Commission, an exchange wagering licensee may collect exchange revenues in the manner and amounts determined by the exchange wagering licensee, including but not limited to assessing a surcharge on any person’s net winnings.
An exchange wagering licensee may cancel or allow to be canceled any unmatched wagers, without cause, at any time.
The Oregon Racing Commission may adopt rules to regulate when an exchange wagering licensee may cancel or void a matched wager or part of a matched wager, and the actions that an exchange wagering licensee may take when all or part of a matched wager is canceled or voided.
An exchange wager may be posted in a market after the start of a race if so authorized by the Oregon Racing Commission by rule and agreed to by the race track or fair that is conducting the race on which the exchange wager is made.
Subject to applicable federal law, an exchange wagering licensee may post exchange wagers submitted by residents of this state in an interstate exchange pool in order to form identically opposing wagers, and may treat any resulting matched wager as part of one or more common pools with any other matched wagers in the interstate exchange pool.
The Oregon Racing Commission may require an exchange wagering licensee to: Pay a fee to the commission of not more than two percent of the exchange wagering licensee’s exchange revenue; and Pay a portion of the exchange wagering licensee’s exchange revenues as may be required by ORS 462.307. Moneys collected under this section shall be deposited in the Ge…
The Oregon Racing Commission may not require an exchange wagering licensee to: Retain, withhold or take out any amounts from exchange wagers; or Assure any minimum payoff amount for an exchange wager or to calculate payoffs of winning exchange wagers in a manner inconsistent with exchange wagering authorized by ORS 462.301 to 462.340.
The Oregon Racing Commission may: Adopt rules: To regulate exchange wagering in this state, including the manner in which exchange wagers may be accepted and the requirements for a person to participate in exchange wagering; Regarding the issuance, renewal, revocation and suspension of exchange wagering licenses; To require an annual audit of an exchange…
No person may wager money or any other thing of value on the outcome of a greyhound race or other dog race, or accept or facilitate such wagering, regardless of the location at which the race takes place. Note: 462.400 becomes operative July 1, 2027. See section 19, chapter 26, Oregon Laws 2025.
The board of stewards appointed by the Oregon Racing Commission for a race meet may, after an inquiry and hearing, impose appropriate sanctions for failure to comply with the laws and rules of racing and with the authorized commission or board directives applicable to said race meet, subject to the following limitations: A civil penalty may not exceed $5,00…
The Attorney General, at the request of the Oregon Racing Commission, shall bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover: Costs described in ORS 462.405 (6) plus reasonable legal fees for the recovery action. An award contained in a final order described in ORS 462.405 (7) plus reasonable legal fees for the recovery action. Note: 462.40…
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
An animal may not participate in any race if: Less than 24 hours before post time the animal has been administered any drug that is prohibited by the Oregon Racing Commission. The animal possesses in its system, on race day, either prior to or at the time of the race any drug detected by any of the testing methods approved by the commission or customarily …
The schedule of purses to be paid during a race meet, including the number of animals sharing in the purse of a race, shall be fair and reasonable. The purse schedule must be submitted to and approved by the Oregon Racing Commission prior to commencement of the race meet.
No person shall stimulate or depress any animal involved in any race or otherwise affect in any way the animal’s ability to perform therein, either prior to or during a race, by the administration of drugs or by the use of any electrical device or equipment or by any mechanical or other device not sanctioned by the Oregon Racing Commission.
No person shall influence or conspire or attempt to influence or conspire with any other person to affect the result of any race in which an animal participates by stimulating or depressing any animal involved in such race or otherwise affecting in any way the animal’s ability to perform therein, either prior to or during a race, through the administration o…
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
No person shall possess, transport or use any drug within the confines of a race course, except upon a bona fide veterinarian’s prescription with a complete statement of the uses and purposes of such prescription upon the container of such prescription. A copy of such prescription shall be filed with the Oregon Racing Commission veterinarian of the race mee…
No person shall knowingly enter or race any animal in any race under any name or designation other than that name or designation assigned to such animal by and registered with such club or association or other governing body recognized by the Oregon Racing Commission for such purpose. No person shall knowingly alter, modify or change any license issued by t…
No person shall aid, abet, counsel, instigate, engage or in any way further any act by which any animal is entered or raced in any race under any name or designation other than that name or designation assigned to such animal by and registered with such club or association or other governing body recognized by the Oregon Racing Commission for such purpose.
Any person who attempts to, or does persuade, procure or cause another person to wager on an animal participating in a race, and upon which money is wagered, and who asks or demands, or accepts compensation as a reward for information or purported information given in such case is a tout, and is guilty of touting. Predictions on the outcome of horse races a…
Any person who in the commission of touting falsely uses the name of any official of the Oregon Racing Commission, its inspectors or attaches, or of any official of any race track association, or the names of any owner, trainer, jockey or other person licensed by the commission as the source of any information or purported information is guilty of a misdemea…
No operative statutory text appears at this designation in the selected edition.
In addition to mutuel wagering authorized by this chapter to be conducted upon the premises of a race course, a race meet licensee may conduct off-race course mutuel wagering in accordance with ORS 462.700 to 462.740 and Oregon Racing Commission rules.
Any race meet licensee may make written application to the Oregon Racing Commission to conduct off-race course mutuel wagering: On races held at the licensee’s race course; or On races held at race courses outside this state. The application shall be in such form, shall contain such information and shall be submitted at such time and in such manner as the…
All moneys wagered in off-race course mutuel wagering on races held at race courses in this state shall be included in the computation of the mutuel pool for that race at the race course. Subject to rules adopted by the Oregon Racing Commission and upon application of the race meet licensee, the commission may authorize: Moneys wagered in off-race course mu…
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Oregon Racing Commission may adopt rules to: License and regulate all phases of operation of Multi-Jurisdictional Simulcasting and Interactive Wagering Totalizator Hubs located in Oregon; and Authorize and license Multi-Jurisdictional Simulcasting and Interactive Wagering Totalizator Hubs to conduct …
A person may not engage in the business of providing totalizator services through the use of totalizator equipment that is located within this state unless the person possesses a totalizator business license issued by the Oregon Racing Commission. Rules adopted by the commission to carry out this section may include, but need not be limited to, rules establi…
A race meet licensee that conducts off-race course mutuel wagering shall make payments to the Oregon Racing Commission in the same manner as if the mutuel wagering were being conducted at the race course.
Notwithstanding ORS 183.430 (1), the Oregon Racing Commission may, without prior notice, suspend or refuse to renew a license authorized under ORS 462.725 without hearing if the commission finds that the licensee has committed a violation of federal or Oregon law or commission rules, that has placed moneys belonging to members of the public at risk. Notwith…
In accordance with ORS chapter 183, the Oregon Racing Commission shall promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of ORS 462.700 to 462.740. Such rules shall be designed to promote the best interests and the good conduct of racing, with due regard for the public health, safety and welfare. In order to provide for the lawful operation of off-race course mu…
Except as provided in this section, violations of any provision of this chapter is a Class A misdemeanor. Any person violating the provisions of ORS 462.420, 462.430, 462.450, 462.460, 462.470 or 462.415 (2) commits a Class C felony. Any person who conspires or attempts to commit or commits any act of touting as defined in ORS 462.510 commits a Class B mis…
In addition to any other liability or penalty provided by law, the Oregon Racing Commission may impose a civil penalty on a person for any of the following: Violation of ORS 462.020 (1). Accepting or facilitating wagers on animal racing, if the person is not authorized to do so under this chapter. The commission shall adopt rules establishing the civil pe…