West Virginia Code 19-23-1 – License required for horse and dog racing and pari-mutuel wagering in connection therewith; exception
(a) No association shall hold or conduct any horse or dog race meeting at which horse or dog racing is permitted for any purse unless such association possesses a license therefor from the West Virginia Racing Commission and complies with the provisions of this article and all reasonable rules and regulations of such Racing Commission.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 19-23-1
- Dog racing: means any type of dog racing, including, but not limited to, greyhound racing. See West Virginia Code 19-23-3
- Hold or conduct: includes "assist, aid or abet in holding or conducting". See West Virginia Code 19-23-3
- License: means the license required by the provisions of section one of this article. See West Virginia Code 19-23-3
- Pari-mutuel: means a mutuel or collective pool that can be divided among those who have contributed their wagers to one central agency, the odds to be reckoned in accordance to the collective amounts wagered upon each contestant running in a horse or dog race upon which the pool is made, but the total to be divided among the first three contestants on the basis of the number of wagers on these. See West Virginia Code 19-23-3
- Purse: means any purse, stake or award for which a horse or dog race is run. See West Virginia Code 19-23-3
- Racing commission: means the West Virginia Racing Commission. See West Virginia Code 19-23-3
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the provisions of this article shall not be construed to prevent in any way the use without a license of any grounds, enclosure or racetrack owned and controlled by any association for any local, county or state fair, horse show or agriculture or livestock exposition, even though horse or dog racing be there conducted, if the pari-mutuel system of wagering upon the results of such horse or dog racing is neither permitted nor conducted with the knowledge or acquiescence of the association conducting such horse or dog racing.