Texas regulator cracks down on illegal horseracing, animal cruelty
The Racing Commission assisted law enforcement in confiscating illegal equipment and drugs.
Key Points
- Law enforcement seized 135 grams of cocaine
- Nine arrests were made
The Texas Racing Commission’s law enforcement team recently teamed up with both local and interagency state partners, to take a stand against animal abuse, gambling and illegal horseracing in Lubbock and Hockley County.
The Commission worked directly with the Hockley County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Animal Health Commission and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Together, they effected search warrants and made multiple arrests at Carril Mochomos, an illegal racetrack in Levelland. The track holds local racing events known as brush races
Law enforcement found illegal equine and human drugs at the property, along with electrical shocking devices that are used to inflict pain on the animals. Large caches of currency, paraphernalia and gambling devices were also discovered.
Texas Department of Public Safety’s Lubbock office spokesman Lt. Johnny Bures said, “As a result of a search of the property, 135 grams of cocaine and numerous gambling devices were located and seized.
“Nine individuals were arrested for various offenses, including Gambling Promotion, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Money Laundering, Use of Proceeds Derived from Racketeering or Unlawful Debt Collection, Unlawful Racing, and Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance.”
Bures added that the investigation “is still ongoing.”
Good to know: The Texas Racing Commission was established in 1986
Commission Executive Director Amy Cook briefly discussed the regulator’s ongoing commitment to crack down on illegal gambling within the state.
She commented, “The Texas Racing Commission is a specialized law enforcement agency willing to lend its expertise to any enforcement partner to prevent illegal gambling on horseracing in Texas.
“Illicit racing at brush tracks pose [sic] a direct risk to the health and safety of racing animals and undermines the integrity of legitimate racing in our state.
Cook went on to add that the Commission is willing to continue using their resources to combat illegal activity.
She said in closing, “We will use every tool at our disposal to enforce our state’s law.
“The Texas Racing Commission is developing a strong regulatory structure to protect Texas horseracing and to support our interagency partners.”
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