The Montana Lottery and the state Board of Horse Racing are teaming up to save horse racing in Montana.

They are developing a statewide fantasy football game to raise money to subsidize the sport.

It's part of a plan passed by the 2007 legislature to keep horse racing in the state.

Montana is one of four states that allow betting on fantasy sports leagues.

The fantasy football game could be the first of what could be many statewide fantasy sports games, including baseball and NASCAR.

The Board of Horse Racing, which receives is funding from race licensing fees, had been on the brink of financial collapse as the sport and industry declined.

Currently only Billings, Great Falls and Miles City offer horse racing.

Missoula and Kalispell most recently dropped the sport from summer fairs mainly due to increased insurance costs for jockeys.

-Jami Bond reporting from KTVQ in Billings

Posted: May 6, 2008 06:07 PM
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