Effective: April 12, 2021
Latest Legislation: House Bill 665 - 133rd General Assembly
(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, horse races that are conducted by a county agricultural society or independent agricultural society in accordance with section 3769.082 of the Revised Code shall be conducted at the fairgrounds of the sponsoring agricultural society or, with the approval of the director of agriculture, at a track designated by the agricultural society in the applicable county. The horse races may be transferred to a suitable track with the approval of the director if the races cannot be contested due to either of the following:
(a) Unfavorable weather;
(b) Another cause.
(2) If the cause specified in division (A)(1)(b) of this section occurs during a state of emergency declared by the governor, or receipt of the director's approval is not practical, the county or independent agricultural society and the Ohio harness horsemen's association may agree to alternate accommodations, including the rescheduling of the dates and location of any horse race. Such an agreement is not subject to the approval of the director.
(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, if the races specified in division (A)(2) of section 3769.082 of the Revised Code cannot be contested by the Ohio expositions commission due to unfavorable weather or other unavoidable cause, the races may be transferred to a suitable track approved by the director of agriculture and the commission.
(2) If the unavoidable cause occurs during a state of emergency declared by the governor, or receipt of the director's approval is not practical, the Ohio expositions commission and the Ohio harness horsemen's association may agree to alternative accommodations, including the rescheduling of the dates and location of any horse race. Such an agreement is not subject to the approval of the director.