Industry officials say that from 1985 to 1995, attendance at all thoroughbred tracks in the country declined to 34.4 million from 51.1 million.

Delta Downs, a small thoroughbred track in Louisiana with slots, had a race last year with a $1 million purse.

It is one of the busiest thoroughbred tracks in the country with over 240 racing dates scheduled for 2012.

There was racing at 43 sanctioned thoroughbred tracks around the country yesterday, and every one of them had a featured stakes race.

They can even go to a harness track and bet on a race being run at a thoroughbred track.

Portland Meadows made history as the first thoroughbred track in the nation to offer night-time racing.

There has been no racing at the thoroughbred track since Saturday.

The resolution would also allow eight harness and thoroughbred horse-racing tracks around the state to have slot machines and video gambling.

What makes it indefensible is that many of these thoroughbred tracks have the capability to give the more precise figures, but choose not to do so.

The outcome could shape the fortunes of the state's best thoroughbred tracks for decades, horse racing experts say.