The body that oversees Minnesota's horse racing is fighting to stay open in the event of a shutdown.

The commission passed a resolution Monday night saying it should not be on the chopping block, partly because it is funded entirely by track fees. Their fate will determine whether the state's two race tracks remain open during a shutdown, since state law requires commission employees to be present during track operations.

The resolution follows Gov. Mark Dayton's court filing last week, listing the commission among a littany of agencies slated to close if there is no budget deal by June 30.

The commission said it already has enough funding to sustain "at least the minimum services necessary" for "the forseeable future."

Closing the body and halting races could have dire consequences, they argued. It would "cause millions of dollars of damage" to the horse racing industry, leave 1,700 employees and 3,000 participating individuals out of work, and "destroy the 2011 season."

They added that a shutdown would fall on the busiest weekend of the racing season: July 4th.

"[T]he national reputation for horseracing in Minnesota will be substantially harmed if the tracks are closed. The negative impact of a closing will be far-reaching and lasting; because many horse owners will choose to avoid Minnesota as a future venue for racing their horses."

The commission plans to send the resolution to Dayton this afternoon. The commission's deputy executive director said they do not plan to file it with the Ramsey County District Court, however.

MRC Resolution June 2011