August 28, 2014 4:22 PM

Rep. Krause files suit to try to block "historical racing"

Racing commission has gambling expansion proposal on its Friday agenda

The fight over a controversial proposal to expand gambling in Texas is heading to the courthouse. That’s after Rep. Matt Krause, R-Ft. Worth, on Thursday said he filed a lawsuit in Tarrant County against the members of the Texas Racing Commission to try to keep them from adopting rules that would allow for what are called "historical racing machines." Krause is also trying to get a temporary restraining order, he said.

“Historical racing machines” look similar to slot machines but what they actually do is allow people to bet on horse races that have already been run. The way that works, supposedly, is the horses have been stripped of all identifying markers so the gamblers have no way to know how the race is going to turn out even though it has already happened.

Welcome to the future where we can bet on the past.

By Scott Braddock