São Paulo councilors approved, this Wednesday (26), a bill that prohibits horse racing in the city. The proposal, authored by councilor Xexéu Tripoli (União), now awaits the sanction of Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) to come into force.
Bill 0691/2022, presented by Tripoli, aims to ban the use of animals in sporting activities, specifically those involving betting.
The vote took place symbolically, without recording the number of votes in favor or against, nor the individual position of the councilors.
Justification and details of the proposal to end horse racing
In 2022, Tripoli justified to the Chamber that, although Brazil prohibits betting games, it does not impose specific restrictions on horse racing with betting, such as Turfe.
“This represents a paradox, given that other practices involving animals, such as cockfighting, are prohibited,” said the councilor.
The proposal provides for penalties for those who fail to comply with the law, including fines of R$100 multiplied by the capacity of attendees at the event. In the event of a repeat offense, the fine will be adjusted annually by the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA).
“Sporting activities that use animals, such as races, disputes or any other event, with the respective issuance of betting pools are prohibited, even if by digital or virtual means”, says the text.
The Jockey Club traditionally holds horse races with betting in the city of São Paulo. The approval of this bill marks a significant change in sports involving animals in the city.
The Jockey Club and the new legislation
The Jockey Club, located in Cidade Jardim, south of São Paulo, faces major changes due to the new Master Plan law.
The park planned for the site was named in honor of João Carlos Di Genio, founder of the educational group Unip/Objetivo. Recent revisions to legislation have allowed the construction of buildings around the racecourse, previously restricted to exclusively residential areas.
The races at the Jockey Club, open to the public mainly on Saturdays, also take place this Friday (28). Both in-person and online betting are prohibited by the new approved bill.
They defend the transformation of the site into a municipal park due to the Jockey Club’s IPTU debt, which totals R$532.6 million. Club representatives claim that the site already functions as a park and question the debt with City Hall, which has been disputed in court for years.
