1. Whenever any organization has been granted a race track license to conduct a horse race meeting, no officer or director of such organization, or person who will thereby become the owner or holder, directly or indirectly, of five percent or more of the shares of stock or certificates or other evidence of ownership in such organization, may become the owner or holder, directly or indirectly, of any such shares of stock or certificates or other evidence of ownership without first having obtained the approval of the commission. The commission may, after hearing, revoke or suspend a race track license granted to any organization which shall register on its books in the name of any such officer, director or person its share of stock or certificate or other evidence of ownership of any interest in the organization without the prior approval of the commission or which shall knowingly permit any such officer, director or person to be directly or indirectly interested in its share of stock or certificates or other evidences of ownership of any interest in the organization without reporting the same to the commission or which violates any rules or regulations of the commission.

2. Whenever the commission shall give to any officer or director of any organization, or person who will thereby become the owner or holder, directly or indirectly, of five percent or more of the shares of stock or certificates or other evidences of ownership of any interest in an organization, its approval to own or hold the shares of stock or certificates or other evidences of ownership of any interest in any such organization, it shall, by registered mail, notify the organization of such approval. Under no circumstances shall the commission give such approval to any such officer, director or person who has been convicted of or is under an indictment for a crime involving moral turpitude or has violated any provisions of the racing law of any state or any rules or regulations of the commission of any state.

Ask a criminal law question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

3. The commission shall require all licensees, including any officers and stockholders thereof, to disclose fully to the commission all financial interests that they may have in horse racing.

4. The commission shall require each licensee under this section to maintain records of owners of stock of the licensee so that the names of all persons, including corporations, trusts, estates, and partnerships, who are the beneficial owners of the stock are disclosed, regardless of the manner in which, or whether, the ownership interest is stated or registered on the stock of the licensee. Beneficial ownership includes, but is not limited to record ownership and:

(1) Stock or other ownership in one or more entities in a chain of parent and subsidiary or affiliated entities, any one of which participates in the capital or profits of a licensee, regardless of the percentage of ownership involved; or

(2) Any interest which entitles a person to benefits substantially equivalent to ownership by reason of any contract, understanding, relationship, agreement or other arrangement even though the person is not the record owner. Unless there are special circumstances, securities held by an individual’s spouse or relatives, including children, living in the home, are beneficially owned by the individual.

5. In addition to any other action which is necessary to obtain disclosure of beneficial ownership of stock, the commission shall require each licensee, at least once every calendar year, to obtain, pursuant to written notice to the record owners of all stock of the licensee, an affidavit from each record owner owning two percent or more, sworn to under the penalty of perjury, stating to the best of the affiant’s knowledge, information and belief:

(1) Whether any person other than the affiant has any right of beneficial ownership of any kind in the stock held in the name of the affiant;

(2) The name and address of the other person; and

(3) The amount and nature of the ownership.

6. If the licensee receives information indicating that a person other than the record owner has a beneficial ownership interest in stock of the licensee, the licensee shall request promptly by written notice to the other person, that this person submit to the licensee within sixty days from the date of the notice an affidavit, sworn to under the penalty of perjury, stating to the best of the affiant’s knowledge, information and belief:

(1) Whether the affiant has any right of ownership in stock of the licensee attributed to the affiant in the notice and the amount and nature of the ownership;

(2) Whether any person other than the affiant and the record owner has any right of ownership of any kind in stock of the licensee attributed to the affiant by the notice to the affiant; and

(3) The amount and nature of the ownership of any other person.

7. Notwithstanding the affidavit requirements of this subsection, the commission may limit the ownership that must be reported in an affidavit to two percent or more of the beneficial ownership of the licensee.

8. Each licensee shall submit the ownership records and affidavits required by this section to the commission annually and at the other times required by the commission. Any change in the record ownership or beneficial ownership of stock of any licensee shall be reported promptly to the commission. Upon the failure of any licensee to maintain and report records of ownership of stock, as required by this subsection, or the failure of any licensee to make a reasonable effort to obtain the affidavits required by this subsection, the commission shall suspend or revoke the license of the track for a period determined by the commission.

9. All statements required to be filed with the commission shall be filed under oath and shall be signed by the officers of the corporation, or, if unincorporated, by the owner or all the partners, general and limited, of the licensee.