Zona de Azar Brazil – Brazil: Horse Racing May Return as Law Prohibiting It is Suspended

Brazil.- August 30, 2024 www.zonadeazar.com On Wednesday, the 28th, the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP) accepted a request from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and, in a preliminary decision, suspended the law that prohibited the use of animals in sports, including betting on horse races in the city of São Paulo. This decision directly impacted the São Paulo Jockey Club.

Municipal Law Prohibited Horse Racing

Attorney General Paulo Sérgio de Oliveira e Costa argues that the ban makes horse racing, a federally authorized activity involving betting, unfeasible.

In July, Judge Damião Cogan had already issued a ruling preventing any sanctions against the Jockey Club, allowing the club to continue its activities until the merits of the case are judged, which is still pending.

Horse Racing May Return

At the time, Cogan considered that the decision could have unpredictable consequences for the club. He also highlighted the argument of lawyer José Mauro Marques, the Jockey Club’s defender, that the legislation governing the activity is federal and cannot be prohibited by a municipal law.

Municipal Law 18,147, dated June 28, 2024, gives companies 180 days to cease activities involving animals and betting. The text, authored by Councilman Xexéu Trípoli (União Brasil), was approved by the City Council on June 26 and sanctioned by São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) two days later.

Jockey Club Would Have to Return Land to the Municipality

The approval of the bill represents another episode in the land dispute. For ten years, the municipal administration has been trying to charge significant amounts of IPTU (Urban Property and Land Tax) and ISS (Service Tax), but the club contests the amounts charged.

Horse Racing

In 2014, an agreement guaranteed the municipality the Chácara Jockey, another piece of the club’s land in Butantã, as payment for old debts. Additionally, part of the land is under concession for a specific purpose.

Thus, ending horse racing would require the Jockey Club to return this area to the municipality if the activity were to cease.

Edited by: @_fonta www.zonadeazar.com