September 10, 2008 - The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission on Monday voted unanimously to hold hearings next month aimed at revoking the state racing licenses of The Woodlands in Kansas City and two other pari-mutuel tracks.

According to the Kansas City Star, the commission's action gave the tracks and their non-profit license holders 30 days notice of its intent to revoke the licenses if progress is not made by the tracks toward restarting their racing programs.

Owners of The Woodlands, Wichita Greyhound Park and the Camptown greyhound track in Frontenac closed the tracks after rejecting deals for state-owned slot machines at their tracks, claiming the state's 40-percent tax bite didn't leave enough room for them to make a profit.

The revocation hearings are set for October 13-14 in Topeka.

"The greyhound and horse racing industries in Kansas are important to the state's economy." Commission director Stephen Martino told the Star. "It's the commission's responsibility to look out for the best interests of the state's racing and breeding industries. Those industries will wither without racing at our racetracks."

"The commission hopes that the existing license holders work hard during the next 30 days to restart their racing programs," he added. "Absent that occurring, the commission may determine that it owes it to the people of Kansas and to the state's racing industry to see if other entities would be interested in operating a racetrack."