Minnesota Race Track To Refund Horse Owners

ST. PAUL (AP) - A Minnesota race track manager says the track will refund horse owners after an audit found it shorted race purses by nearly $437,000 over four years.

The Running Aces Harness Track general manager spoke at a legislative hearing Tuesday. He says the Columbus track will pay back the money it shorted winning horse owners from 2008 to 2012. A state audit released earlier this month said regulators didn't adequately scrutinize the track's payouts.

The manager says the discrepancy resulted from a misunderstanding of state laws. He says the track plans to refund the deficit over three years by adding the money to future purses.

The Minnesota Racing Commission has to approve the arrangement. The commission's executive director says he's happy with the terms.