ATLANTA — Supporters of parimutuel betting are gearing up for another fight under the gold dome.
They're hoping this is the year the legislature will allow voters to decide the issue.
Channel 2 Action News political reporter Lori Geary traveled to thoroughbred country in Bartow County and caught up with those spearheading the efforts and also got reaction from state leaders on the odds of bringing the sport here.
Horse Racing Supporters Want Voters To Decide Issue
"We're talking about an industry that makes jobs for farmers, puts their land to work. That's my vision … to see jobs throughout Georgia that are created by horse racing," said Ed Gadrix, president of the Georgia Equine Education Project.
Gadrix and other supporters of parimutuel betting are preparing for another lobbying effort at the state capitol to bring the industry to Georgia.
Geary was with Gadrix when his new horse arrived from Lagrange. He has high hopes for him.
"He needs a race into him by the end of the year. No horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby who didn't have some experience in him as a late 2-year-old," Gadrix added.
Horse racing is legal in Georgia but betting on the horses is not. Supporters of parimutuel betting say bringing the sport here could create thousands of jobs across Georgia.
"We get industry that comes in and adds 300 people and everyone gets excited. We're talking about 20,000 people with this industry," Gadrix said.
State representative Harry Geisinger, R-Roswell, is pushing the issue at the state Capitol and says "people are sitting in front of their computers today placing bets and we don't see a dime of it." His measure calls for a constitutional amendment, which would mean voters would decide the issue in 2012.
A portion of the money that is bet would go to the hope scholarship, horse breeding and the UGA vet school.
Geisinger said at least the first track would be in metro Atlanta.
Senate majority leader Chip Rogers, R-Cherokee County, released a statement to Geary saying "the issue of whether Georgians want horse racing to support the Hope Scholarship is best left to the voters. I support letting the people decide for themselves."
Republican house speaker David Ralston said, "Until proponents of parimutuel gambling fully engage the people of Georgia and have an honest discussion about the pros and cons of horse racing, which would also likely include casino gambling in order to be financially successful, it would be premature to bring this issue up for a vote and distract from the many other critical issues facing our state today."
A spokesman for Gov.-elect Nathan Deal said, "We don't expect to see such a bill move through the Legislature. During the campaign, the governor-elect expressed opposition to expanding gambling in Georgia."