(Fort Worth, Texas - September 28, 2010) - In its regular meeting in Fort Worth, Texas on September 24, the Equine Practice Committee of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) resolved that the TVMA support the Texas Horse Agri-Industry by supporting the legislation promulgated by Texas HORSE (the THP is a member of Texas HORSE). Texas HORSE is supporting legislation that would legalize the installation of video lottery terminals (VLTs) at licensed Texas racetracks.

The committee's resolution went on to say that the funds generated by the installation of VLTs at licensed Texas racetracks will improve the life of the horse, individuals working with horses, and the general horse industry by:

• Raising purses at Texas racetracks to levels to be regionally and nationally competitive
• Supplementing prize money of non-racing events through the Performance Horse Development Fund
• Funding scholarships for youth organizations
• Funding breed incentives for all major breeds
• Funding equine research
• Funding enhanced equine drug testnig programs
• Funding equine retirement programs
• Funding capital improvements at racetracks
• Funding catastrophic insurance for jockeys
• Funding programs to addres illegal gaming machines and ultimately reducing the total number of untaxed, unlicensed slot machines operating in the state
• Funding programs to promote responsible gaming
• Provide a revenue stream to the general fund of the Texas legislature

For more information about the TVMA, visit the organization's website at www.tvma.org.