NEWS
Pennsylvania horsemen rip plan to ‘raid’ racing fund
Posted: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:13 PM
by Mike Curry
Pennsylvania horsemen on Tuesday blasted Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed operating budget for 2012-2013, which includes plans to draw about $72-million in each of the next three years from the Race Horse Development Fund for state agricultural programs.
The money would go toward agricultural research and extension, veterinary activities, the veterinary center for infectious diseases at the University of Pennsylvania, and state fairs.
The Pennsylvania Equine Coalition, a statewide group representing more than 10,000 trainers, owners, and breeders from the state’s horse racing industry said on Tuesday that Gov. Corbett’s plan to “raid” the Race Horse Development Fund would be a devastating blow to the racing and breeding industries.
With the racing and equine industries employing more than 23,000 Pennsylvanians, the coalition estimated that the cuts would result in significant job losses across the state.
“Coming on top of an already planned $47-million transfer from the Race Horse Development Fund to the state’s General Fund, we are now looking at a roughly $120-million loss in the 2012-2013 fiscal year,” said Ron Batoni, executive director of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association. “That means a significant decrease in purses, which are used to pay everyone from blacksmiths to veterinarians to stable hands. Trainers and owners who brought their horses and businesses to Pennsylvania with the expectation of competing for a certain level of purses are going to pull up stakes and make their investments elsewhere.”
Members of the coalition said the 2012-2013 proposed budget represents a major reversal from Gov. Corbett’s campaign promise to support the legislative goals of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Act, which included enhancing live horse racing and breeding programs in the Commonwealth. Corbett pledged to “ensure support for the Pennsylvania Horse and Harness racing programs” and said his Administration would “work closely with the racing industry organizations to promote commonwealth racing as an integral part of Pennsylvania agriculture, tourism, and cultural heritage.”
“This budget is not supporting the horse racing industry in Pennsylvania—it’s gutting it,” said Todd Mostoller, executive director of the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. “In one fell swoop, the governor’s budget cut will decimate the progress made by the industry in attracting new businesses and preserving open space, creating jobs, and providing health care benefits for Pennsylvanians. Raiding the fund demonstrates a clear lack of support for a major economic driver within the agricultural economy of the state.”
Jeb Hannum, executive secretary of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, said the proposed budget could be especially devastating considering the recent influx of expanded gaming revenue in New York.
“The timing couldn't be worse as the New York breeding program is attracting horsemen from across the country due to the introduction of slots in October of 2011. If the proposed budget is adopted, it will result in horsemen leaving the state and a subsequent loss in jobs,” Hannum said. “Racing and breeding are significant economic drivers in the state which support over 20,000 jobs. This is a $1-billion industry which supports rural communities and the state's agricultural economy. The governor runs the risk of driving good jobs to Maryland and New York and harming Pennsylvania’s agricultural fabric as a result.”
The Pennsylvania Equine Coalition is a statewide group representing more than 10,000 owners and trainers of the racing industry in Pennsylvania. Members of the coalition include the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, and the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: rishard, albany, NY on February 08, 2012 at 03:59 PM
Corbett is a thief.
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Posted by: Gina, Lexington, KY on February 08, 2012 at 07:58 AM
As a trainer, I should automatically support the horsemen's group and I have in the past. However, time and again, the board of Directors of any HBPA on any given track in North America are out for themselves. Anytime that we got big purse money it was a select few on the HBPA board that got all the stalls, won most of the races, and virtually ignore our inquiries. Our questions evolve around "WHERE is the money going?" For example, they take in millions from Casino revenue and the reports we receive NEVER add up. It is the same trainers getting all the stalls year in and year out. Consequently, they get all the owners, attention, and money. One common thread is that they are all HBPA board members or at one time were? So I don't give a darn that the government is takkng their money. My only regret is not one dollar is going to TB rescue. How does it feel Pennyslvsnia HBPA to have money taken from you? Get a taste of what most trainers go through watching you take the stalls, races, and purse money from us. Best wishes, but dont come to us for support.
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