MISSOULA (AP) - Missoula County commissioners voted 2-1 Tuesday to keep horse racing at Western Montana Fair this summer but said they'll reconsider the issue next year.

Commissioners Bill Carey and Barbara Evans reluctantly voted in favor of horse racing, saying organizations and businesses that count on revenue from the fair deserve time to plan for big changes.

"My willingness to do this is not an easy decision," Evans said. "I'm worried about the potential liability to the county."

Carey added that he will not continue to support horse racing unless "something drastic is done," such as the Legislature or the state stepping in with money or ideas to help out.

Commissioner Jean Curtiss cast the dissenting vote, citing insurance costs for covering jockeys and much-needed repairs at the fairgrounds.

"I love horses, but that isn't my job here," she said. "It's a fiduciary responsibility. We have to live within our means."

Mather & Co., which insures all five Montana race tracks, recently increased the cost of insuring jockeys from $1,000 to $2,000 a day. It also is requiring a $10,000 deposit and increased the deductible for each crash to $10,000, up from $1,000.

Last week, the Flathead County Fair Board's voted to suspended horse racing at this summer's Northwest Montana Fair.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer is forming a task force to study the future of horse racing, and the state Board of Horse Racing is asking the 2007 Legislature for tax money to support the industry.

The board also is working on changing its rules to allow tracks to use purse revenues to pay for a $10,000 insurance deductible this year, and to borrow money against their future Simulcast earnings to cover high-cost injuries.