TITLE 54

PROFESSIONS, VOCATIONS, AND BUSINESSES

CHAPTER 25

HORSE RACING

54-2514A.  Dog racing illegal after the effective date of this act. (1)  On and after the effective date of this act, live dog races and pari-mutuel betting on such races or the training of dogs to compete in live dog races shall be illegal in the state of Idaho. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the provisions of this section shall not be deemed to alter or affect simulcasts and simulcast pari-mutuel wagering at a facility that was licensed and authorized prior to January 1, 1996, to conduct live dog races and pari-mutuel wagering on them prior to the effective date of this act, and horse and dog race simulcasts and pari-mutuel wagering on such simulcasts may be conducted at that facility, or at an alternate facility in the same county and approved by the commission as if the facility were still licensed and under the same conditions and restrictions imposed by law on a licensee. Under no circumstances shall the provisions of this section or section 54-2512, Idaho Code, be used to grant more than one (1) license to conduct simulcast pari-mutuel wagering in any county. Any person participating or conducting a live dog race or pari-mutuel betting on such a live dog race or the training of dogs to compete in live dog races in violation of this section shall be guilty of a felony.

(2)  The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to exhibition-style live dog races upon which no pari-mutuel betting occurs on or off the site of the race or training, where the maximum track length and race does not exceed one hundred fifty (150) feet, or to the training of dogs to compete in exhibition-style live dog races, conducted at county fairs. The proper care, humane treatment and protection of a dog participating in an exhibition dog race shall be the responsibility of its owner, and all dog races and associated training shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the provisions of chapter 35, title 25, Idaho Code.

(3)  The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to a sled dog race or to the training of dogs for a sled dog race meeting the requirements of this subsection and upon which no pari-mutuel betting occurs on or off the site of the race or training. A "sled dog race" means a timed competition of teams of sled dogs that pull a sled with the dog musher standing on the runners of the sled. The proper care, humane treatment and protection of a dog participating in a sled dog race shall be the responsibility of its owner, and all sled dog races and associated training shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the provisions of chapter 35, title 25, Idaho Code.

History:

[54-2514A, added 1996, ch. 310, sec. 1, p. 1016; am. 1999, ch. 394, sec. 2, p. 1093; am. 2005, ch. 222, sec. 1, p. 698; am. 2017, ch. 126, sec. 1, p. 296.]