(Austin, Texas - March 24, 2011) - ALL HORSEMEN AND WOMEN - If you care about the future of horse racing in Texas, we need your help and participation in our legislative efforts immediately. We need you to contact both your local Representative and ALL of the members of the House Licensing & Administration Committee (names and addresses are listed below) THIS WEEK urging their support of HB 2111. In addition, we need you present at the Horsemen's Day at the Capitol next Thursday, March 31st (please RSVP using the form below or by phone to the THP office at 512-467-9799 by this Friday, March 25th). This is not the time to sit on the sidelines and expect someone else to make the effort - it is the time for each and every horseman and woman in Texas to stand up and be counted and do their part.

There is a strong possibility that the House Licensing & Administration Committee will be holding a hearing on all the gambling bills that have been introduced this session BEFORE the Horsemen's Day at the Capitol, which is why it is crucial that contacts be made to all the members of this committee by as many horsemen as possible THIS WEEK urging their support of HB 2111 that would legalize slots at the racetracks and Indian reservations in Texas. The members of the House Licensing & Administration Committee are:

• Rep. Mike Hamilton, Chairman, District 19, P. O. Box 119, Mauriceville, TX 77626, District office phone: (409) 745-3644, Capitol phone: (512) 463-0412, Click here to email
• Rep. Chente Quintanilla, Vice Chairman, District 75, 120 North Horizon, Suite 112A, El Paso, TX 79927, District office phone: (915) 859-3111, Capitol phone: (512) 463-0613, Click here to email
• Rep. Joe Driver, District 113, 201 South Glenbrook Dr., Garland, TX 75040, District office phone: (972) 276-1556, Capitol phone: (512) 463-0574, Click here to email
• Rep. Charlie Geren, District 99, 1011 Roberts Cutoff, River Oaks, TX 76114, District office phone: (817) 738-8333, Capitol phone: (512) 463-0610, Click here to email
• Rep. Roland Gutierrez, District 119, 3319 Sidney Brooks, Building 510, Suite 2, San Antonio, TX 78235, District office phone: (210) 532-2758, Capitol phone: (512) 463-0452, Click here to email
• Rep. Patricia Harless, District 126, 6605 Cypresswood Drive #240, Spring, TX 77379, District office phone: (281) 376-4114, Capitol phone: (512) 463-0496, Click here to email
• Rep. John Kuempel, District 44, 523 E. Donegan #102, Seguin, TX 78155, District office phone: (830) 379-8732, Capitol phone: (512) 463-0602, Click here to email
• Rep. Jose Menendez, District 124, 7121 US Hwy. 90 West, Ste. 240, San Antonio, TX 78227, District office phone: (210) 673-3579, Capitol phone: (512) 463-0634, Click here to email
• Rep. Senfronia Thompson, District 141, 10527 Homestead Rd., Houston, TX 77016, District office phone: (713) 633-3390, Capitol phone: (512) 463-0720, Click here to email

You can also write all any State Representative at the following address: P. O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768.

If you do not know who your district's State Senator and/or State Representative is, click here to find out and get their contact information.

Details for Horsemen's Day at the Capitol on March 31st

ALL HORSEMEN NEEDED!!

Purpose: To show our support in numbers for HB 2111/HJR 111 & SB 1118/SRJ 33 on the steps of the Capitol.

Texas Horsemen — this is your call to action.

Overview of the Day:

Buses will depart from the Following Locations:

• Lone Star Park (Grand Prairie) – 6:30 a.m.
• Sam Houston Race Park (Houston) – 7:15 a.m.
• Retama Park (San Antonio) – 8:30 a.m.
  When you RSVP – please indicate that you would like to ride on one of these buses.

Everyone will gather between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. at the Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, share a light breakfast and get prepared for the day.  The Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin is located at 701 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701.

• We’ll then head over to the South steps of the Capitol where we will hear from state and industry leaders on our issue. We will have horses and greyhounds meeting us on the steps! 
• Next we’ll break off into our smaller groups and head into the Capitol to meet with the members of the Legislature and their staff for the rest of the afternoon. 
• The day will wrap up by 4:30 p.m. and the buses will be heading home at 5:00 p.m.

Additional Information:

Parking: For those wishing to drive, we suggest parking in the state garage on 12th and San Jacinto.  Capitol parking maximum daily charge: $8.00.   Click the following hyperlink for Capitol Visitor Parking Garage map:
http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/cvc/plan/images/Parking%20printable%20map.pdf

Security Note: Visitors to the Capitol must go through security at every entrance. There are no full body scanners or pat downs but you should expect to have all bags, purses, briefcases and containers to be searched by hand and you should expect to walk through a metal detector.

If you are a Concealed Hand Gun License holder in good standing, and if you have your CHL card with you, then you may go through a separate line (which is almost always shorter, faster and easier). 

What to Wear: Cowboy “attire” – i.e. boots, hats, etc encouraged!

SIGN UP FOR HORSEMEN'S DAY AT THE CAPITOL: