Sam Houston Race Park officials, along with other facilities in the state, are looking to keep Texans’ gaming revenue a lot closer to home.

Andrea Young, chief operating officer and president of Sam Houston Race Park, is working to have state-controlled slot machines placed in 13 racetracks and three federally recognized Native American reserves in Texas.

“Texans spend $2.7 billion a year at gaming facilities,” Young said, during a recent presentation to the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee meeting. “A large portion of this revenue goes to Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico.”

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AUSTIN – Horse racing backers have put their money on a different kind of race this season, betting millions on candidates with some hope of expanding gambling at Texas tracks.

The state’s scramble for new revenue to fill its expected $18 billion budget hole has given gaming interests their best chance in a decade to overcome legislative opposition. And that’s drawn an interesting mix of donors trying to bankroll election day winners.

“This is the do-or-die session,” said Mike Lavigne, spokesman for Texans for Economic Development, a political committee of 14 track owners that has raised $540,000 in the last year.

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NEW BRAUNFELS — State Rep. Edmund Kuempel (R-Dist. 44) always knew next January’s 82nd session of the Texas Legislature would be a challenging one.

It’s still about six months away, and legislators who are struggling to close a looming $18 billion budget gap are looking toward a package of measures that could include slot machines and perhaps casino gambling.

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SAN ANTONIO — Retama Park’s huge facility lies on the Bexar and Guadalupe County line and on most days, it’s largely unused except for simulcasting. And while some see a waste, Retama Park officials would like to see slots.

Officials have said Texas is facing a huge budget shortfall, and with that in mind, the idea of gambling is back.Among those ready to roll the dice are Retama Park officials.”We know how much Texans and legislators hate taxes,” said Retama Park CEO Bryan Brown. “Well, we’re a great alternative to taxes. We can provide a billion dollars a year to the tax revenues of the state.”

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Many state officials have taken a head-in-the-sand attitude anytime the prospect of bringing legalized casino gambling to Texas comes up, which is every legislative session. They seem to be in a constant state of denial that surrounding states that allow such wagering are siphoning off lots of money that could be kept at home.

The latest to embrace the ridiculous idea that Texas can’t capitalize by keeping bettors at home is John Heleman of the state comptroller’s office. He said recently that legalized gambling won’t bring much revenue into the state in the next two or three years. According to a Dallas Morning News article, gambling should not be viewed as a quick fix to the state’s budget shortfalls, Heleman told the House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee.

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Grand Prairie Mayor Charles England envisions a fancy hotel emerging in his city’s entertainment district.

It’ll fit in nicely, he says, with attractions there, including the Lone Star Park horse track, which was expected to spur development when it opened in 1997.

But 15 years after the district began taking shape, the hotel seems as much mirage as vision.

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Manor Downs, the oldest pari-mutuel horse racing track in Texas, appears to be on its last legs.

The track has not applied for any live racing dates next year and is planning to end simulcasting on July 25.

“It’s not 100 percent, but I’d say it’s 99 percent sure,” said Manor’s chief executive officer, Howard Phillips, who has informed the Texas Racing Commission of those plans.

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