Funding for horse racing in South Dakota hits hurdle in legislative session

An effort to keep South Dakota’s horse racing industry funded has hit some resistance in the state legislative session.

The House Taxation Committee unanimously tabled House Bill 1203 at the request of prime sponsor Representative Mike Weisgram of Fort Pierre.

Weisgram said entities in Deadwood didn’t want the bill to become law.

Weisgram said South Dakota’s funding mechanism for horse racing is not keeping up with modern technology.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a related bill– House Bill 1057– on a 7-1 vote Friday (Feb. 21, 2025). That bill would move money to an account that supports the annual two-day horse races in Fort Pierre in October. Shane Kramme with the Verendreye Benevolent Association says $40-thousand will need to be raised in order to support having the races this fall.