Due to the frequent lack of ice, the ice house will now be open on race days from 6:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. It will be open on non-race days from 6:00 to 11:00 a.m. and closed on Sundays.

Starting on July 22, 2010, all horses who finish beyond fifth in races written as Pennsylvania-bred restricted will receive $200. This change will duplicate the payback that currently exists for open overnight races.

The Pension Committee, made up of John Wames, Rick Wasserman, Matt Groff, and Steph Beattie, in conjunction with our attorney and accountant, has drafted a pension plan for eligible trainers at Penn National. The plan was submitted to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PAGCB) in August with an anticipation of three to five months for approval. After the plan has been approved by the PAGCB, the plan will be submitted to the IRS for final approval.

The IRS approval process generally takes three to five years; however, the plan will fund individual’s accounts and make distributions to those eligible prior to IRS approval. The eligibility has been established at 30 starts combined at Penn National and Presque Isle in the calendar year, with those starts encompassing greater than 50 percent of all starts in North America. For further information, please stop by the Pennsylvania HBPA office during normal business hours.

The Pennsylvania HBPA and New Vocations have formed a partnership to develop a racehorse adoption program for horses after their racing careers have ended. We have placed advertisements in local horse periodicals to locate facilities to get the program started. On the recommendation of New Vocations President Anna Ford’s suggestion, the Pennsylvania HBPA is looking for two facilities that will allow for the horses to be both rehabilitated and retrained.

The retraining facility will need to have an indoor arena and a large outdoor paddock, as well as small paddocks and up to 20 to 30 stalls. Ideally, the facilities should be located within a 60-mile radius of Penn National.

During the search for facilities, the Pennsylvania HBPA is also working on funding for the program. The Pennsylvania HBPA will use administrative dollars in combination with a $25,000 donation from Hollywood Casino at Penn National to implement the program. Perpetual funding will be provided by a $10 charge for all starters at Penn National being removed from accounts through the Horsemen’s Bookkeeper. The $10 charge was initiated on September 1, 2010. In addition, the Pennsylvania HBPA has approached the jockey colony at Penn National to make a small contribution from each mount. It is anticipated the program will require annual funding of $150,000.

The Pennsylvania HBPA will work to fund the program but will not run the day-to-day activities at the facility. Placement of the horses will be open to only those horses at Penn National, but eligibility requirements concerning starts or where stabled have not been finalized.

A Horse Adoption Committee has been created. The committee will be chaired by Sandie Beattie, with members Neil Parker, Jennifer Hamm, Jay Romig, and Steph Tate. If you have any suggestions, please contact the individuals.

After one of the most devastating winters in history, Penn National saw the cancellation of 12 days of racing. In a previous agreement with the Pennsylvania HBPA and Penn National, it was decided that any racing days lost due to weather would be made up as full days and not as extra races each day. Additional days of racing started on Tuesday, May 4 and will continue each Tuesday until mid-July.

The end of winter not only brought Tuesday racing, but it marks the return of racing to the Penn National turf course. The races lead up to the marquee stakes races at the Grantville racetrack.

On July 30, the Jennie Wade Handicap for fillies and mares will be run at five furlongs, and on August 1, the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup for open company will also be run at five furlongs. The Jennie Wade Handicap carries a purse of $100,000, and the Governor’s Cup has a purse of $200,000.

Last year’s Governor’s Cup had a field of nine with a combined 74 wins between them. Last year, local horse Cardashi, trained by Timothy Kreiser and owned by Mason Dixon Stable, was able to pull the upset at nearly 30-1. Keep an eye on the turf races in the coming months to perhaps catch this year’s winner.

The Pennsylvania HBPA has been in discussions over the last several months with New Vocations Program Director Anna Ford about creating an adoption program for horses at Penn National at the end of their racing careers.

Ms. Ford’s program aims to develop retired racehorses for pleasure riding and to place them within 60 days. There are currently four New Vocation training centers – in Tennessee, Michigan, Kentucky, and Ohio.

The Pennsylvania HBPA would like to find a full-service facility with 30-40 stalls with an indoor or covered-outdoor arena within an hour drive of Penn National. Finding a safe place for horses after the track is important for the Pennsylvania HBPA, and we look forward to our continued work with Ms. Ford.

Currently, there is a directive from the Pennsylvania Racing Commission stating that purses must be released within ten business days after receipt of the lab. Ten business days could be as much as 16 calendar days, depending on the date raced. An informal discussion has taken place with Penn National, and they do not have any problems with releasing the purses sooner. The purses would be self-insured, and should any test result come back positive, that owner would have a set number of days to reimburse the purse account or face suspension. Stakes races would be excluded from the 24-hour release.

The Pennsylvania HBPA is currently looking for support and clearance from the Commission prior to implementation.

The first Saturday in May means something to many people in the racing world, but the first Friday in May means something more to horsemen in Pennsylvania. On that day, Presque Isle Downs opened for its fourth season of racing. The Erie track is open from now until September 25 and is highlighted by the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes on September 11. Last year’s winner, Informed Decision, would go on to capture the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and be named Champion Female Sprinter of 2009. The stakes schedule also includes the Presque Isle Mile on September 10 and the HBPA Stakes on closing day, September 25.

In connection with the Pennsylvania-bred program at Penn National, the Pennsylvania HBPA requested that there be two state-bred races written in the condition book each day. This was accepted by Presque Isle Downs and will be implemented in upcoming condition books.

Posted: 4/23/2010

Last December, when the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association stripped three Pennsylvania stakes of their graded status (after the races had been run) because the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission failed to comply to drug-testing protocol established by the TOBA, I wrote that the Pennsylvania commission’s incompetence was regulation at its worst. I didn’t know then how bad it really was.

Philadelphia Park’s Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby, previously designated as Grade 2 events, and the Masters Stakes at Presque Isle Downs, which was supposed to be a Grade 3, were the races that lost their graded ranking. It was an unprecedented and, some say, unfair decision by the TOBA, which instead of being criticized for the move should be applauded for its effort to clean up the sport.

The decision was made because the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, under chairman Corinne Sweeney and acting executive director Mike Dillon, failed to establish TCO2 testing for alkalizing agents, commonly referred to as milkshakes, which every other state with graded stakes was able to do in order to comply with the TOBA Graded Stakes Committee’s drug testing protocol.

It’s not as if testing for milkshakes came out of left field or the Pennsylvania commission had not been notified well in advance of the requirements and reminded of the potential consequences of not complying. Sweeney, Dillon and others at the commission chose to ignore them.

Incredibly, five months later, the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission still has not implemented a TCO2 testing program for Thoroughbreds.

Milkshakes, which can be administered by flushing a mix of baking soda, sugar and water into a horse’s stomach by tubing through a nostril, are a performance enhancer because they help reduce lactic acid buildup that leads to fatigue in a horse. Believed to be rampant in some states despite rules that prohibited the practice, widespread testing for TCO2 levels in Thoroughbreds didn’t begin until 2005. It has slowed the illegal practice down where testing is in place. But Pennsylvania is not one of those places.

As a result, one horse owner told me recently, you could literally trip over all the tubes on the backstretch of a Pennsylvania racetrack.

Questions about milkshakes came up this past week when Anthony Adamo, who served as racing manager and trainer for controversial, Eclipse Award-winning owner Michael Gill, was suspended April 15 for three months for an incident that occurred at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pa., last Oct. 22. A stewards ruling suspended Adamo for possession of hypodermic needles and syringes and said Adamo had the “intent to administer an unnatural and unauthorized substance” to Lion’s Pride, one of Gill’s horses shipped in to race at Penn National that night.

The ruling did not say what the substance was, but Gill, in an interview with Matt Hegarty of Daily Racing Form, said it was baking soda found in the van that brought the horse from Gill’s off-site training center to Penn National. Gill said it was on the van to mix into the water off Lion’s Pride after the race. Lion’s Pride was scratched by the stewards. A hearing on the matter wasn’t conducted until March 23.

There’s no way of knowing whether Lion’s Pride had been given a milkshake before he arrived at Penn National that night. Pennsylvania did not test for milkshakes then, and does not test for them now.

Bettors beware.

Date Posted: 3/10/2010 1:03:19 PM

The chair of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission said March 10 racetrack casinos in the state are expected to demonstrate “concrete ways their commitment to live racing and breeding” under recently passed legislation authorizing table games.

The tracks, termed “Category One” license-holders, already have slot machines under a 2004 law.

Since 2006, hundreds of millions of dollars in slots revenue has gone to the tracks, purses, breeders, and programs for horsemen. Racetrack improvements have been made, but there is a common belief not enough has been done to promote horse racing and generate interest in it by all parties.

During a March 10 Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board public hearing on an application by PARX Casino at Philadelphia Park to offer table games, PHRC chair Dr. Corinne Sweeney cited provisions in the new law. A copy of her comments was forwarded to media outlets.

Sweeney said the 2010 law mandates racetracks to submit annual reports and to indicate measures that will be taken to enhance live racing. Pennsylvania has three Thoroughbred tracks and three Standardbred tracks.

“We expect the Category Ones to put their best foot forward to demonstrate in concrete ways their commitment to live racing and breeding in Pennsylvania,” Sweeney said in her comments. “We expect the Category One license-holders to provide to us what steps they plan to employ to increase the handle and attendance at their respective racetrack in the ensuing year.

“The breeding and racing of horses in Pennsylvania are the keystones as to why Act 71, the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (of 2004) was passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell. With the enactment of (the new law), there will be closer scrutiny of what the Category Ones are doing to promote and enhance live racing and breeding in Pennsylvania.

“There should and will be a closer connection between live racing, slots, and table games; one should be recognized as ‘part and parcel’ with the other. Expectation will be for the Category One license-holders to get creative and innovative. Specifically, we fully expect the Category One license-holders to promote live racing in a robust and sustained manner.”

Greenwood Racing, owner of Philly Park, moved slot machines out of the track’s grandstand late last year and moved them into PARX Casino, a fancy facility located on the property. According to published reports, Greenwood intends to renovate the circa- 1974 grandstand to properly accommodate horse racing and a poker room.

Racing and simulcast activities have been confined to the fifth floor and a small area off the track apron for years. On-track business has taken a big hit as patrons opted to wager elsewhere.

Sweeney said the PHRC expects the Philly Park grandstand “to be suitable for the enhanced live racing product originally contemplated in (the 2004 law)." She also noted the disconnect between PARX Casino and the racetrack, saying: “There should be closer links between the Category One license-holders and featured live racing in something as fundamental as signage. When you enter the PARX Casino, you should immediately be aware that live racing is being conducted at Philadelphia Park.”

There was a similar issue with Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg. Interstate signage that originally only mentioned the casino has been changed to include “racetrack.”

Sweeney also said the PHRC expects tracks to “maintain a safe and professional backside for the well-being of the horses and the stable staff.”

“Cooperation between the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the State Horse Racing Commission will be the hallmark going forward,” she said in her remarks. “The Category One license-holders have a duty, by law, to enhance live racing and breeding in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

Date Posted: 3/10/2010 10:23:56 AM Last Updated: 3/10/2010 1:11:35 PM

Trainer Anthony Adamo, ejected from Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course along with owner Michael Gill, has been permitted access to the Pennsylvania racetrack.

Adamo and Gill were ejected by the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission—not the track—Feb. 2 in connection with an ongoing PHRC investigation. The ejection notice made no mention of any charges against the two men except to say they were interfering with the regular conduct of racing at the track.

Adamo, who has trained exclusively for Gill, won 143 races last year, and his horses collected almost $3 million in earnings.

The ejection order against Adamo was rescinded March 5. The PHRC investigation, which began in late January after some Penn National jockeys refused to ride Gill’s horses or in races in which Gill had horses, continues, as do local Grand Jury hearings said to be tied to the backstretch and racing office at Penn National.

Adamo has continued to train and races horses for Gill at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack in Pennsylvania and Laurel Park in Maryland. Their licenses remained intact even though the PHRC ejected them from Penn National.

The Penn National jockeys alleged safety issues involving Gill’s horses, though some of them have continued to ride his stock at Philly Park.

Penn National has implemented a pre-race veterinary exam targeting those horses with a layoff of 60 days or more, that were eased in their last start, or that are dropping down two or more class levels. There will also be periodic morning observations of workouts by state veterinarians. Please be cooperative with the vets as these new procedures are implemented.

In conjunction with Penn National management, we are addressing the issue of having a vet at night for shippers. We are pursuing several leads for the position and hope to have it filled in the near future.

A Pension Plan Committee has been established by the Pennsylvania HBPA Board of Directors to draft a pension plan for trainers at Penn National. The committee will be led by current trainer Jose Martinez, who was instrumental in getting a pension plan implemented several years ago in Massachusetts.

The Pension Plan Committee will be meeting with attorneys within the next month to discuss guidelines for pension plans set forth by the IRS and implementation of the program. The Pennsylvania HBPA and the trainers of Penn National do not have a typical employer-employee relationship, and thus several legal issues must first be ironed out.

Under the stewardship and guidance of Pennsylvania HBPA President Stephanie Beattie and the Pennsylvania HBPA Board of Directors, the Pennsylvania-bred program for Penn National will have a number of substantial positive changes in 2010.

The Pennsylvania-bred preference has been reinstated for all horses competing at Penn National Race Course. This action reinstated the owner bonus of 20 percent for all Pennsylvania-bred horses finishing in the top three of a race. Previously, those Pennsylvania-bred horses below the $7,500 claiming level did not enjoy preference in races and therefore did not participate in the owner bonus program.

In addition, the Pennsylvania-bred restricted race program has been expanded. Maiden special weights, maiden claiming $25,000 and $10,000 will be written every 21 days and will carry the same purse as the open overnight races. However, no owner bonus will be paid on restricted races. An allowance 1X/2L carrying a $36,000 purse will be written on a 21-day cycle, as well.

After several months of discussion, legislative leaders reached a compromise on table games. On January 6, the state House of Representatives voted for passage of the bill. The casino operators must apply for a license and, when approved, could start to add games such as poker and blackjack.

Included in the table games language is a provision to take $45-$50 million dollars from the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund (PRHDF). This action was taken in conjunction with the assessment of $150 million in license fees from the casino operators to fill a $200 million state budget gap.

The additional take from the PRHDF will continue through June 30, 2013. The take from the PRHDF will cost horsemen at Penn National Race Course approximately $8 million in purses for 2010. The race calendar for 2010, consisting of 200 race days, has been approved by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission. Due to the cut in days, the Pennsylvania HBPA is hopeful purses will not need to be cut in order to compensate for the loss in purse revenue.

Posted: 2/4/2010 11:38:54 AM Last Updated: 2/5/2010 9:31:37 AM

In another development in the ejection of Thoroughbred owner Michael Gill from Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, horsemen on the grounds are said to be purchasing Gill’s horses even though they’ve been labeled a safety risk.

Gill, who earlier announced he would sell his stock and leave the business, was ejected from Penn National Feb. 2 upon order of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission. The regulatory agency said Gill and his trainer, Anthony Adamo, were disrupting the regular course of the track’s race meet.

Most jockeys at Penn National refused to ride Gill-owned horses, though jockeys at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack, the other track open in Pennsylvania, continue to ride his stock with no word of a boycott.

Gill and Adamo retain their state racing licenses.

Gill, last year’s leading Thoroughbred owner by wins and earnings, has 49 stalls at Penn National and is clearing out his stock, saying he is a target and can’t get a fair shake.

Gill said Feb. 4 “the people screaming the loudest” about the condition of his horses have made offers for them, apparently with intentions to continue racing them. He also claimed an individual on the backstretch then went to those horsemen and told them not to buy Gill’s horses because of how it would look.

“These are unfair business practices,” Gill said.

Gill earlier told Daily Racing Form he was considering a lawsuit over the situation that led to his ejection.

A horsemen’s representative couldn’t be immediately reached Feb. 4 to comment on the alleged developments. Penn National-based horsemen haven't publicly criticized Gill, though a few have made derogatory comments in online chat rooms or in response to blogs.

The PHRC, in its ejection notice, leveled no safety-related charges against Gill, though it has said its investigation hasn’t been completed.

Meanwhile, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has entered the controversy. PETA, in a Feb. 4 letter, asked the Pennsylvania Board of Veterinary Medicine to investigate veterinarians at Penn National and at Gill's training center in Oxford, Pa. PETA is targeting the reported breakdowns at Penn National.

Posted 2/4/2010, 10:51 am

Penn National Gaming Inc., one of the largest casino and racetrack operators in the U.S., had a net loss of $264.9 million in 2009, or $3.39 per share, according to financial documents released by the company on Thursday.

Penn took a $520.5 million charge in the fourth quarter to reflect lower values for its properties, contributing to the loss. Last year, when company posted a net loss of $153.3 million, Penn took a $481.3 million impairment charge, under new accounting rules that require companies to estimate the book values of their assets every year. Previous accounting rules were not as stringent.

Net revenue for the year was $2.37 billion, down slightly from net revenue of $2.42 billion in 2008, according to the financial statements. Peter Carlino, the chief executive of the company, said in a statement accompanying the financial documents that casino customers were gambling less in the recession, contributing to the decline.

Among its 18 properties, Penn National owns Charles Town Races and Slots in West Virginia, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania, and Black Gold Casino at Zia Park in New Mexico. Late last year, voters in Ohio approved a measure that will allow Penn National to open casinos in Columbus and Toledo, and state legislatures in West Virginia and Pennsylvania passed measures allowing casinos to run table games.

Date Posted: 2/4/2010 11:38:54 AM Last Updated: 2/5/2010 9:31:37 AM

In another development in the ejection of Thoroughbred owner Michael Gill from Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, horsemen on the grounds are said to be purchasing Gill’s horses even though they’ve been labeled a safety risk.

Gill, who earlier announced he would sell his stock and leave the business, was ejected from Penn National Feb. 2 upon order of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission. The regulatory agency said Gill and his trainer, Anthony Adamo, were disrupting the regular course of the track’s race meet.

Most jockeys at Penn National refused to ride Gill-owned horses, though jockeys at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack, the other track open in Pennsylvania, continue to ride his stock with no word of a boycott.

Gill and Adamo retain their state racing licenses.

Gill, last year’s leading Thoroughbred owner by wins and earnings, has 49 stalls at Penn National and is clearing out his stock, saying he is a target and can’t get a fair shake.

Gill said Feb. 4 “the people screaming the loudest” about the condition of his horses have made offers for them, apparently with intentions to continue racing them. He also claimed an individual on the backstretch then went to those horsemen and told them not to buy Gill’s horses because of how it would look.

“These are unfair business practices,” Gill said.

Gill earlier told Daily Racing Form he was considering a lawsuit over the situation that led to his ejection.

A horsemen’s representative couldn’t be immediately reached Feb. 4 to comment on the alleged developments. Penn National-based horsemen haven't publicly criticized Gill, though a few have made derogatory comments in online chat rooms or in response to blogs.

The PHRC, in its ejection notice, leveled no safety-related charges against Gill, though it has said its investigation hasn’t been completed.

Meanwhile, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has entered the controversy. PETA, in a Feb. 4 letter, asked the Pennsylvania Board of Veterinary Medicine to investigate veterinarians at Penn National and at Gill's training center in Oxford, Pa. PETA is targeting the reported breakdowns at Penn National.

Posted 2/4/2010, 10:51 am

Penn National Gaming Inc., one of the largest casino and racetrack operators in the U.S., had a net loss of $264.9 million in 2009, or $3.39 per share, according to financial documents released by the company on Thursday.

Penn took a $520.5 million charge in the fourth quarter to reflect lower values for its properties, contributing to the loss. Last year, when company posted a net loss of $153.3 million, Penn took a $481.3 million impairment charge, under new accounting rules that require companies to estimate the book values of their assets every year. Previous accounting rules were not as stringent.

Net revenue for the year was $2.37 billion, down slightly from net revenue of $2.42 billion in 2008, according to the financial statements. Peter Carlino, the chief executive of the company, said in a statement accompanying the financial documents that casino customers were gambling less in the recession, contributing to the decline.

Among its 18 properties, Penn National owns Charles Town Races and Slots in West Virginia, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania, and Black Gold Casino at Zia Park in New Mexico. Late last year, voters in Ohio approved a measure that will allow Penn National to open casinos in Columbus and Toledo, and state legislatures in West Virginia and Pennsylvania passed measures allowing casinos to run table games.

Posted 2/3/2010, 2:19 pm

Embattled Thoroughbred owner Michael Gill said Wednesday that the 40 or so horses he has had stabled at Penn National Race Course are being moved to his private farm as he continues to liquidate his stable, a process sparked by the controversy in which he has been embroiled in Pennsylvania since Jan. 23.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission ruled off Gill at Penn National, allowing the track to avert an apparent jockeys' boycott and a major disruption in the Wednesday night program at the Grantville, Pa., track. Gill had planned to run horses in four of the nine Wednesday races, but Penn jockeys, who have gone on record as saying they fear for their safety in races in which Gill's horses are racing, were prepared to boycott, making those races impossible to run.

The Tuesday letter and formal ruling from Michael Dillon, executive secretary of the commission, says that Gill's ejection from Penn "is based upon information received by the commission from the Penn National jockeys and the HBPA [Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association] regarding an ongoing controversy which will jeopardize the orderly conduct of the race meet." It further states in part that "your presence, your trainer(s)' presence, and your horses' presence at Penn" is deemed to be "detrimental to the best interests of racing."

The Tuesday letter asked Gill to plan on attending a meeting among himself and representatives of the track, the jockeys, the HBPA, and the commission on or about Feb. 23 at the commission offices in Harrisburg.

Gill, 54, said he believes he is being unfairly singled out by the commission and by Penn National and that he "absolutely" is considering a lawsuit against Penn National and/or the commission, citing a possible antitrust aspect to his banishment. Gill sued Delaware Park over a similar ban in 2003 in a case that eventually was settled out of court.

"To me, all this means is they found nothing on me and anyone could be thrown out for whatever they consider to be 'the best interest of racing,' " Gill said. "If they had even the littlest thing to hang on me, believe me, they would have."

The commission ban does not preclude Gill from racing at Philadelphia Park, where his stable has been and will continue to be active for the foreseeable future. There have been no reports of major complaints about Gill from the Bensalem, Pa., track.

Gill, who does not have stalls at Philadelphia Park, said his entire stable is being consolidated at his 140-stall private training facility in Oxford, Pa., in the southeastern part of the state. Private farms do not fall under the jurisdiction of the commission.

Gill announced Monday that he intends to sell off all of his 100-plus Thoroughbreds and other racing-related holdings because of the latest controversy. He said Wednesday he already has sold "about 15, maybe more" of the horses since deciding to disperse. "I'm just going to have the horses trained there at the farm, sell some, have some claimed, and just keep going until I don't have any more," he said, adding that anyone interested in his horses can contact his trainer, Tony Adamo.

The commission has been investigating the breakdowns of Gill's horses at Penn in recent months. The last breakdown, by Laughing Moon on Jan. 23, led to jockeys refusing to ride in races in which Gill's horses were scheduled to race.

Gill said he was informed at a Saturday meeting with officials and veterinarians from the track that necropsies for Laughing Moon and for Melodeeman, who also suffered a catastrophic breakdown Jan. 21 at Penn, uncovered no wrongdoing.

At Penn, six Gill horses had suffered catastrophic breakdowns since Oct. 1, according to Daily Racing Form data, while another nine were pulled up, badly eased, or went lame in races during that period. Overall, Gill won with 370 of 2,247 starters in 2009 and has maintained that, aside from Penn National, he had only one catastrophic breakdown during the entire year at other tracks.

Gill has led North American owners in wins four times since 2003, including last year and in 2005, when he was voted the Eclipse Award for top owner.

Posted 2/1/2010, 3:27 pm

Owner Michael Gill said he intends to sell off all of his Thoroughbred holdings, saying he is "just worn down" by the recent controversy involving the breakdowns of his horses at Penn National Race Course.

In the meantime, Gill said he intends to race the four horses he has entered for Wednesday night at the Grantville, Pa., track, although an apparent jockey boycott may make running those races impossible.

Gill has one horse entered in each of the third, fourth, fifth, and eighth races Wednesday night. But only four other horses in those races - two in the fifth race and two in the eighth race - have jockeys named to ride on the revised overnight sheet, released Monday. On the original overnight sheet, released Friday, every horse in those four races had a rider named. Jose Baez has replaced Francisco Garcia on the four Gill horses, while Abel Mariano and Luis Quinones each has a mount in the fifth race, and David Cardoso and Stacey Zavala remain named on horses in the eighth race. No horse besides Gill's has a rider named in the third and fourth races. A total of 26 jockeys originally named Friday to ride in those races have taken themselves off mounts.

Phone calls to two Penn jockeys went unreturned Monday. Very few Penn jockeys are members of the Jockeys' Guild, which has not taken a stance in the matter.

This is the second time the jockeys there have refused to ride in a race with a Gill-owned horse. Jockeys initially refused to ride the remainder of the Jan. 23 card at Penn after a Gill-owned horse, Laughing Moon, broke down shortly after the wire in the fifth race. It was only after the one remaining Gill horse on that program, Justin M, was scratched, that jockeys agreed to continue riding. For the four subsequent days of racing at Penn, Jan. 27 through Saturday, Gill horses were not permitted to run. Wednesday will mark the first day of action there since Saturday.

"I'd rather not speculate on what the jockeys may or may not do [Wednesday night]," Eric Schippers, spokesman for Penn National Gaming, wrote Monday in an e-mail.

Said Gill: "I don't know what's going to happen Wednesday night. All I know is I'm running, even if I have to ride the horses."

Gill, who won the Eclipse Award for top owner in 2005 and led all North American owners in wins last year, said Monday morning from his mortgage business in New Hampshire that he has received death threats and that he is "through with the racing business." He said he owns just over 100 horses, with 49 of them stabled at Penn.

"I don't have the taste to do this anymore," he said. Asked how sure he was that he is getting out, he answered: "100 percent." He said he is unsure of how he is going to proceed with the actual selling of his horses.

Gill met at length Saturday at Penn with officials and veterinarians from the track to address the situation that existed since the Laughing Moon breakdown. Gill said necropsies ordered by the track for Laughing Moon and for Melodeeman, who also suffered a catastrophic breakdown Jan. 21 at Penn, uncovered no wrongdoing.

At Penn, six Gill horses have suffered catastrophic breakdowns since Oct. 1, according to Daily Racing Form data, while another nine were pulled up, eased, or went lame in races during that period. Overall, Gill won with 370 of 2,247 starters in 2009 and has maintained that, aside from Penn National, he had only one catastrophic breakdown during the entire year at other tracks.

"The problem is with their racetrack there at Penn, and they're trying to shift the blame to me," said Gill, 54. "Racing in the mountains in Pennsylvania in the dead of winter? Of course you're going to have problems keeping your track safe."

Schippers said in an earlier e-mail that the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission is continuing to investigate the issues surrounding the Gill breakdowns. "We are not releasing details of the meeting," he wrote.

Gill has been the subject of vitriolic web postings since the Laughing Moon breakdown. He said he received at least two death threats and that his family slept at a hotel "a couple nights" because of the threats.

After Gill was the voted the Eclipse in 2005, he dramatically cut back on his stock, getting down to about 20 horses from a high of about 300 at his peak. He said Monday that during that period he still had a yearning to be part of the game, and he eventually became very active again.

"I can't do this anymore, to myself or my family," said Gill, who has five children and two stepchildren. "If one of my horses breaks down again, I'd be right back in the eye of the firestorm."

He spoke at length Monday of how he believes various trainers, jockey agents, and track officials have conspired against him since he became a force in recent seasons at Penn. Having recently been involved in a five-year audit by the Internal Revenue Service, he said he no longer has the will to fight a war on another front.

Gill has owned horses since 1979, but it wasn't until 2000 that he expanded his stable in dramatic fashion. He deals primarily in lower-level claiming horses, although he has won a number of stakes through the years.

The Penn controversy is the latest in a lengthy list for Gill during his tenure in racing. In 2003, his horses were barred from racing at Delaware, after which he filed an antitrust suit that was settled out of court the following year. In 2003-04, he campaigned a stable in Southern California while claiming a slew of horses and shipping them out of state, much to the consternation of racing officials there. In March 2006, he won a case before the New York Supreme Court, overturning two medication positives from races at Saratoga in 2004.

The results of the 2009 election for the Pennsylvania HBPA Board of Directors are:

President – Stephanie Beattie

Owners – Ken Bowman, Donald Brown, Tom McClay, Vicki Nightingale, and Dr. Richard Reveley

Trainers – Sandee Martin Beattie, Clovis Crane, Tom Lingenfelter, Jose Martinez, Flint Stites

We congratulate those who have been elected to serve for the next three years and thank those who took an interest in racing in Pennsylvania by running for the Board.

The Pennsylvania HBPA adult Christmas Party will be held on Monday, December 14 at the Holiday Inn Grantville. The doors will open at 6:00 p.m., with dinner being served at approximately 6:45 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Penn National HBPA office during normal business hours and can be purchased for $10 apiece. No one under the age of 16 will be admitted.

Come join us for an evening of good food, dancing, and Christmas spirit.

The Pennsylvania HBPA Children’s Christmas Party will be held in the track kitchen on Saturday, December 12 at 2:00 p.m. Children under the age of 12 are invited to attend this annual event. Please register your child at the Pennsylvania HBPA office during normal business hours.

In an effort to assist Santa with his present count, the last day to sign up is Tuesday, December 8.

Posted 10/21/2009, 5:19 pm

Jockey Angel Stanley finished two wins in front of Jeffrey Skerrett, 100-98, to claim the riding title at Pinnacle Race Course, which concluded its meet on Monday.

Stanley started the final day leading by one. He won three races on the card, with Skerrett winning twice, including one race by disqualification. They went into the last race with Skerrett looking for a tie. Stanley rallied for a neck win on Foxy Missy ($11.80) to claim the title.

There was much less drama in the race for leading trainer. Robert Gorham took the lead on Day 1 and lapped the field en route to his second title in the track's two years of operation. On Monday, Gorham won the sixth race with his own Leaving Bagdad for his 83rd win at the meet, 47 more than his nearest rival. Most of his wins came for owner Henry Mast.

Divisional winners were named by announcer Matt Hook. Valley Loot repeated as the top older mare at the meet. Like the other champions, she won her division of the Michigan Sire Stakes on Oct. 10. Owner Felicia Campbell, the CEO of Pinnacle, also picked up the trophy for 3-year-old colt Romeo Again, whom she owns in partnership. Ronnie Allen trains both runners.

Trainer Larry Uelmen was represented by the fillies Hakuna Matata and Hustle Now. The 3-year-old Hakuna Matata is owned by White Lake Farms Inc. Hustle Now, a 2-year-old, belongs to Sheffield Farms.

The top juvenile male is Hour by Hour, trained by James Jackson for his wife, Laura, and breeder Valerie Irvine.

Bipolar Express, who was claimed away from trainer Gerald Bennett, before being claimed back for the Sire Stakes, grabbed the award for the top older male. Mary Bennett, who races as Winning Stables, Inc., is the owner.

The special Shamanuu award was given to Lazy Nathan, the only five-time winner at the meet. Trained by Sandy Adkins for Charlie Williams, he also had two seconds from his eight starts.

Date Posted: 10/12/2009 10:08:34 AM

Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell has signed into law a budget for Pennsylvania that reduces the share of revenue horse racing gets from slot machines by about 17% over four years.

The budget was signed into law Oct. 9, more than 100 days late. Horsemen’s groups in Pennsylvania fought the plan by the state legislature to reduce the contribution from slots to balance the state’s budget. The impact statewide could be about $50 million a year.

The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association in a memo said the reduction in slots revenue to horse racing is 17%, which means purses will get 10% rather than 12% of gross gaming revenue under the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. The PHBA said the Thoroughbred breeding fund will lose about $2.7 million a year for four years.

Officials said some of the reduction would be offset by full-year operations at non-track slots casinos that pay 6% of gross gaming revenue to horse racing. That percentage, however, also will drop by 17% over the next four years.

Breeders’ awards will remain at 20%-30% and stallion awards at 10%. The PHBA said the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission Breeding Fund Advisory Committee will determine how the decrease in revenue will be applied to the program.

Slot machines at racetracks in the Keystone State were approved legislatively in 2004. Lawmakers also are negotiating to add table games to casinos, though no revenue would go to horse racing under the plan. The racing industry instead fought to maintain its share of slots revenue.

In an Oct. 1 release, the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, which represents horsemen at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack, said the cut would mean a $32-million reduction in revenue over four years at the track. Horsemen said the proposal could force a reduction in racing dates and cuts in stakes purses.

"We are going to have to make some difficult choices and cuts to make up that cut in funding," Pennsylvania THA executive director Mike Ballezzi said in a statement. "Purse cuts and breeders award reductions will slow or stop the growth in Pennsylvania racing and breeding by eliminating the major incentives for horsemen to race in our state or for breeders to bring their mares to the state."

The Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, which represents horsemen at Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, said the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund is "under attack" from legislators.

"Table games, if passed, may or may not negatively affect slots revenue and reduce purses even further," the PHHA said in a legislative alert. "The PHHA supports the passage of table games legislation because it is good for the overall financial health of state casinos, which in turn helps provide a more stable foundation for us.

"However, a cut to the Race Horse Development Fund would cause Pennsylvania to immediately become non-competitive with neighboring states, and could lead to the collapse of Pennsylvania racing, its infrastructure, and related businesses."

Ballezzi said at Philly Park, there could be 17%-20% cuts in benefits for horsemen’s pension and health-care plans. On the racing side, he said the purse for the grade II Pennsylvania Derby could drop from $1 million to $250,000, and the $750,000 Cotillion Stakes (gr. II) could be dropped from the schedule.

Date Posted: 10/9/2009 1:28:31 PM

Horsemen’s groups in Pennsylvania are fighting a plan by the state legislature to reduce the contribution from slot machines to horse racing by $50 million a year to balance the Commonwealth’s budget.

Slot machines at racetracks in the Keystone State were approved legislatively in 2004. Lawmakers also are negotiating to add table games to casinos, though no revenue would go to horse racing under the plan.

Budget negotiations are ongoing Pennsylvania, which is more than 100 days late in adopting a spending plan. According to published reports, there still is disagree on a tax structure for table games and whether those provisions will be included in the 2004 law that authorized slots.

In an Oct. 1 release, the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, which represents horsemen at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack, said the proposed cut would mean a $32-million reduction in revenue over four years at the track. Horsemen said the proposal could force a reduction in racing dates and cuts in stakes purses.

“We are going to have to make some difficult choices and cuts to make up that cut in funding,” Pennsylvania THA executive director Mike Ballezzi said in a statement. “Purse cuts and breeders award reductions will slow or stop the growth in Pennsylvania racing and breeding by eliminating the major incentives for horsemen to race in our state or for breeders to bring their mares to the state.”

The Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, which represents horsemen at Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, said the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund is “under attack” from legislators.

“Table games, if passed, may or may not negatively affect slots revenue and reduce purses even further,” the PHHA said in a legislative alert. “The PHHA supports the passage of table games legislation because it is good for the overall financial health of state casinos, which in turn helps provide a more stable foundation for us.

“However, a cut to the Race Horse Development Fund would cause Pennsylvania to immediately become non-competitive with neighboring states, and could lead to the collapse of Pennsylvania racing, its infrastructure, and related businesses.”

Under the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, racing gets 12% of slots revenue from tracks and another 6% from non-track casinos. In 2008, the act generated more than $200 million for purses, breed development, and programs for horsemen.

Ballezzi said at Philly Park, there could be 17%-20% cuts in benefits for horsemen’s pension and health-care plans. On the racing side, he said the purse for the grade II Pennsylvania Derby could drop from $1 million to $250,000, and the $750,000 Cotillion Stakes (gr. II) dropped from the schedule.

Earlier in the year, the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, which represents horsemen at Hollywood Casino at Penn National and Presque Isle Downs & Casino, indicated a desire to push for revenue from table games. The group at the time said the 4% paid to horsemen and breeders from table games at West Virginia tracks is too low.

Published: September 29. 2009 1:15AM

Presque Isle Downs completed its second full 100-day season on Saturday with higher attendance, on-track handle, off-track handle and number of starters per race than in 2008.

The thoroughbred track, which opened with a 25-day meet in September 2007, averaged 784 fans who wagered $44,490 per eight-race card. Off-track wagering averaged $383,407. The 2008 numbers were 660, $39,520 and $274,732 respectively.

In 798 races -- two races were canceled by thunderstorms Aug. 20 -- PID averaged 7.71 starters per race, up from 7.11 in 2008.

Jockey Huber Villa-Gomez won the riding championship with 102 victories in 472 starts, a 21.62 winning percentage, and generated $1,832,523 in earnings. Second-leading rider Harry Vega had 81 wins in 389 starts (20.8 winning percentage) with $1,830,523 in earnings.

Jamie Ness was the leading trainer with 71 wins in 213 starts (33.3 winning percentage), with $1,194,877 in earnings. Joseph R. Martin was second with 34 wins in 206 starts.

Derby Hopeful won all five of its starts as the top winner at PID. Rollicking Affair won four times in eight starts, including the H.B.P.A.. Stakes on Saturday, giving the 4-year-old filly $168,135 in earnings.

Posted 9/23/2009, 5:00 pm

The final three stakes of the Presque Isle meet will take place Saturday. All three have drawn competitive 12-horse fields.

The $100,000 Fitz Dixon Memorial is for 2-year-old colts and geldings going 6 1/2 furlongs. Grand Slam Andre, trained by Steve Asmussen, has won 3 of 6 this year, including the Clever Trevor at Remington Park and the Middleground at Lone Star. In his last out Sept. 7, he was sixth in the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga after breaking slow. He will add blinkers for the Dixon.

The $100,000 HBPA is for fillies and mares going a mile and 70 yards. Exotic Bloom has won 2 of 3 over the Presque Isle surface, including the Windward two starts ago. She was third in the Grade 3 Seaway at Woodbine on Sept. 5 while gaining late in the seven-furlong event.

The $100,000 Presque Isle Debutante is for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs. Greeley's Rocket, trained by Bret Calhoun, won a maiden race at Churchill Downs in June and an allowance race here in her last out.

* The Presque Isle Downs riding and training titles are locked up going into the final weekend. Through Tuesday, Jamie Ness led the trainers' race with 66 victories. Joe Martin was second with 32.

Jockey Huber Villa Gomez had 96 wins going into Wednesday, 20 more than Harry Vega.

* Jockey Dale Beckner, injured in a spill Aug. 28, is home and doing well. Beckner spent 22 days in the hospital and had three surgeries to repair bones in his head and face.

"I am getting better every day" he said Wednesday.

Beckner plans on riding again, but it will be a while.

"My knee is still messed up and that will mean surgery and a long process," Beckner said.

Posted: 9/23/2009

Three years ago it was a rash of positive tests for the Class 1 drug aminorex that had regulators and horsemen in Pennsylvania and several other jurisdictions scratching their collective heads. Today, it’s a Class 2 drug called lobeline that is showing up in trace amounts in dozens of tests at the University of Pennsylvania laboratory, and Pennsylvania horsemen are insisting it’s a case of contamination.

The tests have led to purses being frozen in as many as 30 races, according to Todd Mostoller, executive director of the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. A number of trainers and owners are paying for split samples and hiring attorneys to fight pending charges. Winning horses have had their victories put on hold, and horses that finished second behind first-place finishers that tested positive are considered winners, though their owners haven’t received the applicable purse money.

Stewards, meanwhile, have temporarily postponed hearings in some of the cases while Dr. Lawrence Soma at the University of Pennsylvania lab is said to be researching how lobeline–a drug used in nicotine patches to help people quit smoking–is finding its way into blood and urine tests of racehorses.

“I am 100% sure that nobody is treating their horse with lobeline,” Mostoller told the Paulick Report. “We have horsemen I have absolute confidence in that have done nothing wrong, and they’ve had horses test positive. And there are a lot of horsemen out of state who now are scared to death to come here and race.”

Mostoller and others said they’d heard the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission apparently had received a tip or some undercover evidence suggesting lobeline was being purchased in a powdery form, mixed with water, and then injected in horses to create a respiratory stimulant effect that is very short-lived. One equine medication expert told the Paulick Report lobeline clears the body very quickly and would affect a horse for less than 15 minutes. “You’d almost have to give it in the starting gate,” he said. “It elevates the heart rate for 60 to 90 seconds,” Mostoller said. “It has absolutely no pharmacological effect.

“If that’s what their intelligence is telling them, I’m sure Dr. Soma can get (lobeline powder), duplicate it and see if the results of those tests mirror what the test results have been,” said Mostoller.

Calls to Joseph Mushalko, director of operations for the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, were not returned, nor was an email to Dr. Soma at the University of Pennsylvania lab. (UPDATE: SEE END OF STORY FOR COMMENT FROM PENNSYLVANIA HORSE RACING COMMISSION.)

The positive tests for lobeline began this spring with standardbred horses and have picked up through the summer with both standardbreds and Thoroughbreds. Most of the tests are measuring between 1.5 and 6 picograms, the Paulick Report was told (a picogram is one-thousandth of a nanogram or one trillionth of a gram), although some have been as high as 100 picograms. There is no threshold level for lobeline in Pennsylvania.

“They are very proud of their instrumentation at the lab and are able to go after extremely low levels of a drug,” the Paulick Report was told by a source familiar with the Pennsylvania lab. “To my knowledge, these cases represent the first time lobeline has been called as a positive anywhere in the U.S.”

Many horsemen feel lobelia inflata, a plant indigenous to the northeastern United States, has found its way into feed or supplements and is causing the positive drug tests for lobeline. Lobelia inflata, also known as puke weed or Indian tobacco, has been used as an herbal remedy to induce vomiting or treat asthma or other respiratory ailments in humans. But Soma is said to have administered lobelia plants to horses and has been unable to duplicate the test results.

The lobeline positives in Pennsylvania are reminiscent of scopolamine prosecutions in California 15 years ago against Hall of Fame trainers Richard Mandella and Ron McAnally, the late Willard Proctor and Mark Hennig. In those cases, there was strong evidence that hay or straw—even potentially in the state test barn—was contaminated with jimsonweed, which can contain scopolamine. The trainers were eventually absolved of any wrongdoing (after spending thousands of dollars in legal fees), but the owners of the horses that tested positive lost their purse money.

Pennsylvania regulators may not be rushing to prosecute the lobelia cases because of what happened with the positive tests in 2006 for aminorex, a weight-loss stimulant drug that hadn’t been manufactured for nearly 20 years because of dangerous side effects. Positive tests for a metabolite of that drug were found in Ontario, Canada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and even Hong Kong, but the cases were dropped when scientific research determined it may not have been aminorex but a substance found in a deworming product.

“Reputable horsemen were involved then,” Mostoller said. “It’s a very similar situation to what we have now. At first the racing commission was very reluctant to do any research on (lobeline), but reputable horsemen with not even a parking ticket on their records started getting positives. With aminorex, all the trainers were exonerated and the purses were reissued to the original horses.”

“Everybody should want to know the truth here,” Mostoller said. “Dr. Soma at all times is interested in finding out what is going on, but he was shut down by not being able to send any samples to the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology Lab to do his research. You would think that as a veterinarian Dr. (Corinne) Sweeney (chairman of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission) would want to know the truth, too. But they are still calling positives and are still scheduling stewards’ hearings. People are still hiring attorneys, paying for split samples, and having purses held.”

The Paulick Report will update this story if and when we hear back from the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission or University of Pennsylvania testing laboratory.

UPDATE (9:00 A.M., Wednesday, Sept. 23): Joseph Mushalko of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission returned a phone call Wednesday morning after this story was published, but could not provide details about the number of cases, from which tracks the positive tests came, or what research is being conducted because all of the cases "are still under investigation." Mushalko said one case had been adjudicated but is under appeal and that the trainer has received a stay from a 90-day suspension and $1,000 fine. He also confimed that the aminorex cases from 2006 were all dismissed.

Date Posted: 9/13/2009 9:06:04 PM Last Updated: 9/14/2009 11:19:44 AM

Cherokee Artist posted the first stakes win of his career in fine style when he captured the $249,500 Presque Isle Mile (VIDEO) on the evening of Sept. 13 in Erie, Pa.

Ridden by Jeremy Rose for owner/breeder J. Mack Robinson and trainer Graham Motion, the 4-year-old son of Cherokee Run snatched the lead from pacesetter J's Sundance Halo on the final turn. After battling through the stretch, Cherokee Artist drew away from J's Sundance Halo late and won handily by 2 3/4 lengths. He completed the trip in 1:35.82 over Presque Isle Downs' Tapeta Footings racing surface. That was a stakes record and .17 off the track mark.

“We had a beautiful trip, just what I wanted,” said Rose. “Graham had him on his toes, he settled perfectly and, luckily, I didn’t do anything to spoil the effort. I’d describe Cherokee Artist as a very classy racehorse.”

J's Sundance Halo, who broke on top from the rail for jockey Luis Gonzalez and posted fractions of :23.09, :46.04, and 1:10.20, held on stubbornly for the place spot, with The Roundhouse finishing a half-length behind in third. Vacation, the 8-5 favorite in a field reduced to eight by four scratches, came up empty in the stretch after rallying on the turn and wound up fourth, beaten by nearly six lengths.

Cherokee Artist lost by by just a head while finishing second in his last start in the Leeward Stakes July 26, his only prior race at Presque Isle. He ran third, four lengths behind Vacation, in the Hanshin Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Arlington Park prior to the Leeward. His last victory came over an optional claiming field at Keeneland in April. Overall, the bay colt has won five of his 15 starts and earned $528,996 after collecting $150,000 for the victory.

“He has a lot of ability,” said Motion. “I always thought he was capable of making a top effort. I think he has proven that now, and maybe it’s time for him to make the next step.”

Asked what that might be, Motion responded, without hesitation, “The Breeders’ Cup (Dirt) Mile.

"I think one mile is his best distance. He’s run very well (on the synthetic surface) at Santa Anita. And I really think if we do that, we won’t run him again until the Breeders’ Cup itself.”

The Robinson homebred is out of the Mr. Prospector mare Race Artist.

Sent off as the third choice, Cherokee Artist paid $7.80, $5, and $3.60, combining with J's Sundance Halo ($10, $3.60) for a $51.60 exacta. The Roundhouse, who trailed the field at the race's midpoint under Chris DeCarlo, finished willingly to pay $4 for the show.

Vacation was followed by second choice Motovato, Jade's Revenge, Luck Money, and Sea Dubai. Xela, Rollicking Affair, Sweet Lorena, and Tiz Late all scratched.

Posted 9/9/2009, 3:16 pm

Game Face comes into Saturday night's Grade 3, $400,000 Presque Isle Masters, the track's premier race, off two consecutive stakes wins but still has a question to answer for trainer Todd Pletcher. How will she perform in her first start over a synthetic surface?

"If she handles it well and runs a good race, we will look into running her in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint," Pletcher said. "If she doesn't, then we will pick out some dirt races and go that way with her. We'll just have to see how she likes it."

Informed Decision should be favored, having won a pair of Grade 1 stakes this season - the Madison at Keeneland and the Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs - and 8 of 11 lifetime starts. She is 4 for 4 on synthetic surfaces. Other top contenders are Diamondrella and Flashing, both Grade 1 winners. Bear Now, Dubai Majesty, and Porte Bonheur have all won Grade 2 or 3 events.

Game Face won the Grade 1 Princess Rooney at Calder on July 11 by 6 3/4 lengths in ridden-out fashion. She then came back to win the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga in her most recent start. Both events were at six furlongs; the Masters will be run at 6 1/2 furlongs.

"I don't think the added distance will be a problem at all, she has won at seven furlongs," said Pletcher, speaking of the Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream Park.

Game Face has won 8 of her 15 career starts, all over dirt. She has won four graded stakes this season, beginning with the Grade 3 First Lady at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 19.

Pletcher plans on shipping Game Face to Presque Isle on Friday.

"We will ship her from Belmont the day before the race," he said.

Edgar Prado, who has piloted Game Face to her last two wins, will ride.

Because of its position on the calendar and because the Breeders' Cup was run over Santa Anita's synthetic surface last year, as it will be again on Nov. 6-7, the Masters has been given graded status this year in only it's third running. Presque Isle Downs has a Tapeta surface, Santa Anita has a Pro Ride all-weather surface.

Fourteen horses were entered in the Masters, but only 12 will be allowed to start. Two horses, Premier Roma and Old Time Religion, are on the also-eligible list in case there are any scratches.

Posted 9/2/2009, 6:01 pm

Jockey Dale Beckner was out of intensive care in a Pittsburgh hospital as of Wednesday and is scheduled to undergo surgery to stop the bleeding on his brain, according to his agent, Steve Hayes.

Beckner was injured in a spill Aug. 28 in the first race at Presque Isle Downs when his mount, Private Exchange, broke down while on the lead and threw Beckner. Another horse stepped on Beckner's face and head. Beckner was reported to be conscious and in good spirits a day after the accident, according to an article on Bloodhorse.com.

Beckner is in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center with slight bleeding on the brain and multiple face and skull fractures and facial lacerations.

The accident comes several weeks after Beckner guided Soul Warrior to an upset victory in the Grade 2, $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park.

Posted: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 5:29 PM

Jockey Dale Beckner, who was seriously injured in a frightening spill in the opening race on August 28 at Presque Isle Downs, is under observation for slight bleeding on the brain at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Chaplain Waverly Parsons, former president of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, said Beckner sustained multiple fractures to his face and skull from the fall. Beckner’s mount in the race, 1-to-2 favorite Private Exchange, broke down and unseated Beckner, who was kicked in the head by a trailing horse.

Beckner won the West Virginia Derby (G2) aboard Soul Warrior on August 1 at Mountaineer Race Track as a last-minute replacement for Miguel Mena. He has amassed 52 stakes wins since he began riding professionally in 1993, including five graded stakes victories.

Date Posted: 8/29/2009 1:57:52 PM Last Updated: 8/30/2009 9:59:51 AM

Jockey Dale Beckner, who rode longshot Soul Warrior to victory in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (gr. II), was seriously injured Aug. 28 in an accident at Presque Isle Downs.

Beckner, 37, was aboard the Rick Beattie Jr.-trained Private Exchange in the first race of the day at the Pennsylvania track, a six-furlong event for $7,500 claimers. When the 4-year-old colt broke down suddenly at the nine-sixteenths pole, his rider appeared to be kicked in the head by a trailing runner. Private Exchange was euthanized following the accident.

According to the jockey’s girlfriend, Chamisa Goodwin, Beckner sustained multiple fractures to his facial area, eye sockets and nasal passages, and part of his skull. He was conscious and in good spirits Aug. 29 at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, she said, although doctors were monitoring his condition for slight bleeding on the brain.

“They’re going to have to put some hardware in his skull; a plate and screws,” she said. “They haven’t given me an exact date yet but he’ll be in ICU for at least a couple of days and undergo surgery in about a week.”

Beckner is a native of Spokane, Wash., and won the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey in 1994. He ranks sixth in the standings at Presque Isle’s current meet behind leader Hubert Villa-Gomez with a 46-39-53 record from 300 starts.

Effective with racing Tuesday, August 18, the Pennsylvania-bred entry preference and owner bonus coverage was extended to include all maiden races at Hollywood Casino at Penn National. The bonus percentage will be 20 percent of purse share for first, second, and third place finishes by registered Pennsylvania-breds, identical to the bonus currently offered on all other overnight races, with the exception of those with a claiming price of $7,500 and below.

In the event any open overnight race is closed to outside company when eight or more registered Pennsylvania-breds pass the entry box, no Pennsylvania-bred bonuses will be paid.

In open overnight races in which the Pennsylvania-bred owner bonus is not offered (claiming $7,500 and below), an owner award will be paid from the Breeding Fund to the owner of Pennsylvania-bred winners in an amount equal to ten percent of the winner’s share of the purse. Breeder and stallion awards will continue to be paid under the schedule presently provided for by statute.

In a combined effort between the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, the Pennsylvania HBPA, and Hollywood Casino at Penn National to improve the racing surface at Penn National, George A. McDermott was brought in to conduct an independent evaluation. George conducted numerous tests during his dates of evaluation, July 13-15, 2009. He examined the size and layout of the track, as well as construction elements. He checked slopes and banking, surface depths, and took concussion impact readings. In addition, he examined all track equipment. Based on his extensive research over the period, he made the following recommendations which will be implemented throughout the fall:

• Increase the depth of the current cushion one-quarter to one inch. This recommendation was also made by the lab where track samples were analyzed.

• The current ratio of medium/fine material to coarse sand is currently 1.19. Ideally this ratio should be 2.5. More fine sand should be added.

• There is a fairly high level of sodium while salinity remains low. This adversely effects how clay responds and should be addressed by adding gypsum to increase calcium level.

• Implement regularly scheduled Clegg Instrument sample readings to determine concussion.

• Construct a covered area to store and keep racetrack surface materials dry.

• Modification to the harrows with a feather-bar would improve the look and levelness of the racetrack surface.

• Water quality for both the main track and turf track should be looked into for the effects of the gray-waters being used.

• Four-wheel drive tractors in the future will be a plus.

The Pennsylvania HBPA looks forward to working with the Commission and Penn National management in the implementation of the recommendations to improve the racing surface at Penn National.

The 2009 election will take place this fall, with the ballots counted on November 9, 2009. If you have recently moved or relocated to the area, please contact the Pennsylvania HBPA office at (717) 469-2970 with your correct address to ensure your receipt of election information and ballot.

Posted 8/22/2009, 1:22 pm

Whistle Pig continued his dominance at Presque Isle Downs when defeating five other Pennsylvania-breds in the $75,000 Leemat on Friday evening.

Trained by Andrew Carter, Whistle Pig has now won six of his eight starts at Presque Isle Downs. Ten horses were scheduled to go to the post in the Leeward, but four horses were scratched late.

"I was worried when those four scratched out, they were mostly speed horses and I was worried he wouldn't have enough to speed to run at," Carter said after the race.

Whistle Pig, a 5-year-old gelding, was kept just off the pace in the 6 1/2-furlong Leemat by jockey Dale Beckner. Pacesetter Juke Joint led into the stretch under John McKee but Whistle Pig responded when asked for his best and drew off to win by two lengths. He was timed in 1.15.71 and returned $3.60 to win.

Diplomatic Charm got up for second, a neck in front of Juke Joint, who settled for third.

Posted 8/20/2009, 5:52 pm

Dave Frizzell resigned as the racing secretary at Presque Isle Downs on Thursday. Frizzell took the job in 2008, the Erie, Pa., racino’s second season of racing.

I have done all I can do for Presque Isle and need to find something closer to home. I need to spend some time with my family, Frizzell said. I wish them all the luck in the world.

Frizzell resides in Pendleton, Ind. The track’s general manager, Debbie Howells, said a replacement should be named shortly.

Presque Isle opened in 2007 with a 25-day meet, ran 100 days in 2008, and is currently in the midst of a 100-day season that runs through Sept. 26.

Posted 8/19/2009, 2:49 pm

Whistle Pig will try to continue his dominance over the Presque Isle Downs Tapeta surface Friday evening in the $75,000 Leemat, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for Pennsylvania-breds. Whistle Pig is 5 for 7 at Presque Isle in his career.

Trained by Andrew Carter, Whistle Pig has bankrolled nearly $600,000 and is owned by the HACK Stable. Although the 5-year-old gelding is based at Philadelphia Park, he has been at Presque Isle for the last three weeks, according to racing secretary Dave Frizzell.

"He has been stabled here since they closed at Philadelphia Park," Frizzell said. Philadelphia Park has been closed since Aug. 2 for planned maintenance on the track surface and will resume live racing again Aug. 29.

Whistle Pig has won two of his six races this year, including two of his last three. In his only Presque Isle outing this year, on June 20, he won the Presidentialaffair by three-quarters of a length. In his most recent out, July 21, Whistle Pig won an open third-level optional claiming race at Philadelphia Park by 2 3/4 lengths, and he looks primed for a big effort when he faces nine others in the Leemat. Whistle Pig won the Leemat last year by a length and a half and established a track record of 1:15.04.

Jockey Dale Beckner will be aboard Whistle Pig. He is 2 for 2 aboard Whistle Pig for Carter. Whistle Pig's off-the-pace style will suit him well in the race, as there is an abundance of speed for him to chase.

Brass Bay, a 3-year-old who has made all four of his starts at this meet, will be making his stakes debut. Brass Bay has finished first in 3 of 4 starts but was disqualified and placed third on July 24 for bearing in at the start.

Trained by Richie Kelly, Brass Bay has improved in each start and if he can continue to improve and the added distance suits him, he could be a contender. He has yet to run farther than six furlongs in his four outings.

Regular rider Willie Martinez will ride.

Posted on Thu, Aug. 13, 2009

A Pennsylvania horsemen's group maintains that introduction of table games at the state's casinos would lower slots revenue, thus hurting the horse-racing industry.

The decrease could be 8 percent to 13 percent, according to the Pennsylvania Equine Coalition, which presented its study to the House Gaming Oversight Committee in Harrisburg yesterday.

"Current table-games legislation misguidedly sets different tax rates for slot machines and table games, creating the potential for lost state revenues and declines in funds for the equine industry," said Joe Santanna, president of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, a member of the equine coalition.

The report was meant to counter an analysis funded by the state's casino operators that said Pennsylvania's annual gambling revenue could increase 30 percent, or $976 million, by 2012 if table games were added.

Both State Rep. Bill DeWeese (D., Greene) and State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R., Bucks) have introduced measures to legalize table games, and both bills propose a much lower tax rate on the games' revenue than the 55 percent tax rate on slots revenue. Neither has been scheduled for a floor vote.

The horsemen's group argues table games will be detrimental to the horse-racing industry because it will dilute slots revenue. Horse racing now benefits directly from gross slots revenue, getting a percentage of the state's tax proceeds to underwrite harness and thoroughbred races and higher purses.

Current table-games legislation contains no such provisions to aid the industry, Santanna said.

Tomlinson tried to undercut the report yesterday.

"Table games will provide an additional 10,000 family-sustaining jobs and salaries and generate economic activity in a host of related industries, including tourism," he testified. "They will also help to make us competitive with neighboring states, which are all benefiting from revenue from table games."

Posted 8/2/2009, 12:54 pm

In a field that contained three graded stakes winners, a locally based former claimer stole the spotlight in the richest race in Penn National Race Course's 37-year history.

Cardashi, a 7-year-old gelding who was claimed for $10,000 in February, earned the biggest victory of his 42-race career when he scored by 1 1/2 lengths in Saturday night's $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup.

Cardashi was the second longest shot in a field of nine older turf sprinters and paid $61 to win after completing five furlongs over yielding ground in 56.23 seconds. The winner s share of $120,000 nearly equaled the $146,085 he had earned in his previous 41 starts.

The field Cardashi beat included Smart Enough, a two-time Grade 3 winner this season; Chamberlain Bridge, winner of the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs in May; True Quality, winner of the Grade 2 General George Handicap in February; and Yankee Injunuity, who won the $200,000 Arlington Sprint Handicap last time out.

For most of his career, Cardashi had competed for a claiming tag, running for as low as $6,250 in 2007. Trainer Tim Kreiser took Cardashi for $10,000 on Feb. 26, and the horse proceeded to lose three more races on the main track before Kreiser tried him on turf for the first time. In four starts on grass, Cardashi has now won three times, including the local prep for the Governor's Cup on July 15.

"My horse was very sharp winning the stakes prep over this course two weeks ago," said winning rider David Cora. "In the stretch, I didn't see anyone closing from behind, and then the leader got tired and I still had plenty of horse left. He loves this turf course."

Never worse than second under a ground-saving ride from Cora, Cardashi powered by pacesetter Blue Sailor in deep stretch. Blue Sailor, an 11-time winner on grass, ran the first quarter-mile in 21.07 seconds and the half in 44.07 before shortening stride. He held on for second over late-closing Chamberlain Bridge while 9-5 favorite Smart Enough, winner of the $200,000 Highlander Sprint at Woodbine on June 21, tried the inside route in the lane but never menaced and finished fifth.

In the other stakes on the card:

Letter of the Law ($15.40), making her first start on turf after three races on synthetic surfaces, defeated 6-5 favorite Greeley's Rocket by 1.5 lengths in the $75,000 Turf Starlet for 2-year-old fillies.

Heavy favorite Dr Large ($4) ran down pacesetter Shine for Steve to prevail by a neck in the $75,000 Capital City, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.

Pashito the Che ($16.60), switching from turf to dirt, beat 9-5 favorite Great Love by 1 3/4 lengths in the $75,000 East Hanover Township, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.

Total handle on the 11-race card was $1.7 million.

Posted: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 10:45

Second-quarter net revenues for Penn National Gaming Inc. fell about $15-million short of projections.

Penn National registered $580.8-million in second-quarter revenues, falling short of the $595.6-million projection. Second-quarter revenues for the casino and racetrack owner were down 6.4% compared with the same quarter last year.

Penn National Chairman Peter Carlino said the company fell short because of unfavorable variances at Charles Town Entertainment Complex, Black Gold Casino at Zia Park, and Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

Of those three properties, Charles Town and Zia Park include racetracks. Carlino said marketing programs at Charles Town were not as productive as hoped and Zia Park was impacted by West Texas economic issues, including declines in oil prices.

Penn National is pursuing two potential casino options in Ohio through the Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan. A ballot proposal to amend the state’s constitution to authorize casinos in the state’s four biggest cities has received enough signatures to be included on the November ballot. Penn National hopes to put casinos in Columbus and Toledo if the casinos are allowed.

Penn National also owns Standardbred track Raceway Park in Toledo, which has been approved for video lottery terminals.

Date Posted: 7/28/2009 8:14:11 AM Last Updated: 7/28/2009 8:46:18 AM

Total purses of almost $1 million will be offered at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course for what the track is calling the "Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Racing Festival" July 31-Aug. 1.

The stakes highlight is the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on the turf. The 123-pound high weight is Penn National-based Fabulous Strike, considered by some as the top sprinter in North America.

Others nominated for the Aug. 1 Governor’s Cup, the richest race in Penn National history, include top grass sprinters Chamberlain Ridge, Heros Reward, and Mr. Nightlinger. The program, which begins one hour earlier at 5:45 p.m. EDT, will offer three other stakes: the Capital City and Turf Starlet on the turf, and the East Hanover Township on the dirt.

On July 31, the program that begins at 6:45 p.m. will feature the $100,000 Jennie Wade Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf, and two $75,000 stakes—the Red Carpet and Femme Fatale.

Entries for the July 31 and Aug. 1 programs will be taken July 28 and July 29, respectively

Posted 7/23/2009, 6:16 pm

Sky Mom looks to return to her old form Saturday at Presque Isle Downs when she faces 11 fillies and mares in the $100,000 Windward.

Trainer Al Stall is confident that will happen in the one-mile Windward, which will be held over Presque Isle's Tapeta surface.

"She is kind of finicky about the kind of track she runs on," he said. "She has been training at Keeneland and loves the Polytrack there. I am sure she will like the surface at Presque Isle."

Sky Mom has yet to win this year, but won 3 of 9 starts last year as a 3-year-old and earned over $303,000. Her victories came in the Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park, the WinStar Oaks at Sunland Park, and the Grade 3 Arlington Park Oaks.

Two starts ago, the daughter of Maria's Mon finished fifth to Euphony - who has now won six stakes in a row - in the Grade 3 Matron at Arlington Park. She had trouble in that race and was disqualified to eighth for interference. In her last out June 16, Sky Mom ran third in the $75,000 Golden Sylvia at Mountaineer Park when sent off as the odds-on favorite under jockey Mario Pino.

"She came out of the 1 hole and was pinned down inside," Stall said. "The track was wet and she just didn't run her race. Mario had to keep after her the whole race and that is not the way she usually runs."

Stall believes things have come together for Sky Mom.

"She has been training with life and couldn't be doing any better," he said "She likes to run on the outside and there seems to be plenty of speed for her to lay off. She should just fall to the outside and then pick them off in the stretch."

Pino retains the mount.

Graham Motion sends out two fillies who are coming off impressive wins. Both won June 13 and both races were scheduled for the grass but transferred to the main track. Cherokee Queen led every step in the Possibly Perfect at Arlington Park, winning by 5 1/2 lengths. No Use Denying won the John W. Rooney Memorial at Delaware by 10 lengths.

Date Posted: 7/9/2009 1:31:01 PM Last Updated: 7/10/2009 9:59:22 AM

Horsemen at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course are getting a $400,000 “thank you” July 11.

The Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association put together the program, which features nine overnight races with inflated purses. A similar program is scheduled for July 18.

Purses at Penn National are fueled by revenue from slot machines that became operational in the winter of 2008. The July 11 pots are roughly double the usual nightly average.

Entry-level allowance races will go for $60,000 and maiden special weight events for $50,000. The purse for a $5,000 claiming event for non-winners of two races lifetime is $20,000, and the purse for a “name your own claiming price” event at 1 1/2 miles is $40,000.

The featured event on the 10-race card is the previously scheduled $75,000 Ligature Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares.

No race drew fewer than 12 entries. Eight races have also-eligible lists five- and six-horses deep.

The program stemmed from discussions during meetings of Penn National's condition book committee.

“(The program) was designed for those horsemen who have supported our program through the lean times,” Pennsylvania HBPA executive director Todd Mostoller said. “Basically, it was put together as an opportunity for them to have preference of entry and good purses, and to say thank you.”

Penn National is expecting close to 500 people in a tent on the apron that night. The overnight races July 11 are for male horses; races with similar conditions July 18 will be for female horses.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Mostoller said. “We’re really please with the entries we’ve gotten. It might be tweaked (in the future), but it’s certainly something we’ll look to do on an annual basis."

Article published Jul 7, 2009

Presque Isle Downs & Casino has opened a $2.1 million on-site quarters that will house grooms, who are responsible for the care and feeding of racehorses on the property.

Some grooms are already living in the dormitory-style housing, and 44 will have checked in by Wednesday, said spokeswoman Jennifer See.

The building, about 200 yards south of the track, can accommodate 99 tenants during the live racing season, which runs through September.

The two-floor building has 33 rooms, with three beds to a room -- including one bunk bed.

Each room also has closet space, a night stand, and individual heating and cooling units. It also features a common area with a refrigerator, microwave, television, tables and chairs, vending machines offering dinners and snacks, and a beverage machine.

Either a groom or a horse's trainer pays the $5-per-day charge for the housing, See said.

Presque Isle Downs & Casino had an agreement with the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission to build the on-site dormitory for the grooms as a condition of getting its racing license, See said.

Until now, the track had been paying to put the grooms up at a nearby motel.

Posted 6/17/2009, 7:19 pm

Bucking a national trend that has seen racetracks request fewer racing days to combat small fields as their betting handle dwindles, Penn National Race Course has been able to raise purses once again.

The latest purse increase, which went into effect June 11, raised overnight purses to a track-record daily average of $170,000.

Purses now are almost 34 percent higher than than they were in February.

Maiden special weight races, previously worth $30,240 in the last condition book, now carry a purse of $35,360. A first-level allowance goes for $36,000 in the current condition book, up from $29,000.

"One of the major forces in making our program grow is field size," said Rob Marella, Penn National's director of racing. "Right now, we are averaging 9.3 horses per race, the highest in the mid-Atlantic area."

The big fields have resulted in more betting. Through the end of May, live ontrack handle was up more than 10 percent, and simulcast wagering on Penn National races has jumped more than 40 percent over 2008.

Posted: Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:57 PM

Because of a past posting incident during the second race on June 5 at Penn National Race Course, the payoff for the pick three wager that concluded with the third race was miscalculated.

Wagering pools remained open for 27 seconds after the start of the second race and officials at the Grantville, Pennsylvania, track voided about 63.3% of the wagering pool from the $7,500 claiming race.

The pick three pool in question closed at the start of the first race but because payoffs on the second race were not made official until the conclusion of the June 5 card, the pick three ending in the third race paid off on “ALL” in the second leg, resulting in a $17.20 payoff per $2 ticket. The correct winning sequence should have been three with three with one, three, six, seven, nine, ten with a $77.40 payoff. The daily double pool ending in race two was not affected.

“We have communicated this information to our simulcast outlets and have advised them of the revised pricing for the June 5 pick three wager,” Penn National Director of Racing Operations Rob Marella said. “For any guest who wagered using an account service or through a tracked wagering source, those accounts should be easily identifiable to receive a proper credit. Guests who did not wager using an account or did not have a tracking method associated with their wager should go to the simulcast location where their wager was placed to provide the proper information in order to review and verify the wager in question.

“Penn National and United Tote will work with every wagering outlet to confirm all legitimate claims for pick three wagers made on this race.”

Chris McErlean, vice president of racing for Penn National Gaming Inc., said that pools remained open because of a communication link failure at the track. Pools locked 27 seconds into the race when United Tote’s Oregon hub recognized that the track had not executed a stop betting command.

The incident was the second in 16 days at Penn National involving pools remaining open at the start of a race. Penn National declared the May 20 race a non-betting contest but decided to pay out winning tickets on the June 5 race if wagering hubs could confirm the bets were placed before the race went off.

“We knew there had been some past posting but weren’t sure of the extent, but we felt we had a good feel on the off time of the race versus when the pools closed,” McErlean said. “So we made the decision that rather than refund the entire pool like we did last time, we would review wagering from all locations and give them the opportunity to show which bets came in before the start of the race.”

Posted 6/8/2009, 11:07 am

Street Magician led at every call to win the $100,000 Karl Boyes Memorial at Presque Isle Downs Sunday evening.

Trained by Michael Trombetta, Street Magician set a track record, covering the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.24 over the Tapeta surface. Street Magician returned $7.20 to win.

Jockey Julian Pimental sent Street Magician to the front when the gate opened on the field of six. Pimental asked the 5-year-old son of Street Cry for his best in upper stretch and he drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Favorite Tempo Five finished second, a neck in front of Rouse the Cat in third.

Ten horses were entered in the event, but four late scratches Carnack's Choice, Drunken Love, Honest Trip, and Man of Danger left a filed of six. Castles in the Sky stumbled at the start and unseated jockey Scott Spieth.

The following rules and regulations are added to the existing eligibility and guidelines that MUST be met to participate in the Pennsylvania HBPA health plan through Highmark BlueShield.

ELIGIBILTY PERIOD:

• In establishing a trainer’s eligibility for the coverage period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, the Pennsylvania HBPA will measure trainer participation between dates of October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009.

MAINTANING ELIGIBITY THROUGHOUT THE PLAN YEAR:

• Although a trainer may establish eligibility during the eligibility period, ongoing assessment by the Pennsylvania HBPA will occur throughout the plan year to verify the trainer is maintaining eligibility standards.

• A trainer will lose eligible status during the year for the following reasons:

- trainer moves to a non horse racing industry
- trainer no longer holds a valid trainer’s license in Pennsylvania
- trainer has gifted or sold starts to another trainer for the purpose of establishing Pennsylvania HBPA health plan eligibility for that trainer
- an executive decision on the part of the Pennsylvania HBPA for reasons not limited to those listed herein

For a clarification on eligibility and guidelines, please call or visit the Pennsylvania HBPA office.

Policy for Use of Corticosteroids by Intra-Articular Administration Effective date: June 1, 2009.

WHEREAS, in accordance with §§201 (a) and 202 (a) of the Race Horse Industry Reform Act (4 P.S. §§325.201(a) and 325.202(a)), the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission (“Commission”) has general jurisdiction and authority over all thoroughbred horse racing activities in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, consistent with its statutory authority, the Commission is concerned with the health and safety of the equine athlete engaged in thoroughbred horse racing in the Commonwealth and with the negative impact of intra-articular administration of corticosteroids in horses on or near race day; and

WHEREAS, after substantial review and discussion the Association of Racing Regulatory Veterinarians (“ARRV”) provided the Commission with a proposed recommendation to discontinue intra-articular administration of corticosteroids seven (7) days prior to the horse’s race day; and

WHEREAS, on April 15, 2009, at its monthly meeting, the Commission unanimously adopted the proposed ARRV recommendation;

NOW THEREFORE: the Intra-articular administration of corticosteroids to horses shall be discontinued seven days prior to the horse’s race day. Any administration of corticosteroids to horses by Intra-articular administration shall be entered by the practicing veterinarian on the treatment sheet.

This Policy is effective June 1, 2009.

Two members of the Pennsylvania HBPA board have been appointed to the nominating committee by Pennsylvania HBPA President Joe Santanna. If you are interested in running for one of the board positions held by five owners and five trainers, please contact board member Ken Bowman at (717) 979-8204 or board member Stephanie Beattie at (717) 645-5488.

Pennsylvania HBPA elections will be held in November of this year.

Nearly $400,000 in Purse Money Available for Local Horsemen

The Pennsylvania HBPA has set July 11, 2009 as its inaugural Horsemen’s Appreciation Day at the races at Penn National. The condition book will contain specific races for Horsemen’s Appreciation Day, with purses totaling just shy of $400,000.

While most of the races will have the usual conditions, they will include a special eligibility preference stipulation and a one-time only higher purse.

The stipulation for eligibility preference is as follows: horses will be preferred based on the most starts made at Penn National during the last 12 months. Therefore, horsemen who operate primarily at Penn National will have a significant advantage on entry day.

Special races will include a few unique conditions and one-time only higher purses totaling nearly $400,000. The Horsemen’s Appreciation Day special races will be for colts and geldings on July 11. The following Saturday will feature the same races for fillies and mares.

Along with the exciting races on July 11, a free buffet dinner will be available for owners and trainers on the track apron.

For more details about the special race card or more information about the Horsemen’s Appreciation Day activities, please contact the Pennsylvania HBPA office at Penn National at (717) 469-2970.

Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009

At a time when many racetracks across the country having trouble filling race fields, Presque Isle Downs is suffering from the opposite problem. Stall applications came in even after the deadline, totaling between 2,500 and 3,000 for the 500 available stalls, attracted by purses of $178,000 a day and the Tapeta track surface.

The Presque Isle Downs meet in Erie, Pa., which began on May 8, lasts 100 days. Its premier race is the newly-graded Masters Stakes, a sprint for fillies and mares.

Presque Isle Downs may not stack up to Churchill Downs or Santa Anita, but the track is drawing horsemen from all quarters to its small site near the shores of Lake Erie. Opened for 100 days on May 8 for a second full season, Presque Isle Downs boasts full fields in eight races a day, and is turning horsemen away.

The space limitation is so severe compared to the desire of horsemen to race there that the track had to put in a cap of 25 stalls per applicant. This caused several trainers to turn back their allotment and transport, sometimes seven hours just to race at Presque Isle. Eclipse Award-winning trainer Steve Asmussen had 40 stalls last year and requested more this year, but could not receive as many as he needed so he turned them back. So did Kentucky-based Greg Foley, who has publicly expressed frustration with the reduced racing in his home state. Both will still race at Presque Isle.

Currently, the grooms' quarters are being built, while shuttle buses provide transportation for them to a nearby hotel. After that project is complete at the end of June, plans are in the works for more barns, with an estimated capacity of 1,000 stalls. These are barns that have been promised by parent company, Mountaineer Gaming, since the first abbreviated meeting of 25 days in 2007.

"I can't say we'll have them by next year, but they are on the way," Debbie Howells, director of racing, said. "We've tried to accommodate the horsemen and when we can't give them the stalls they've asked for, they say, 'well, give me what you can.' We're getting horses from Ohio, Michigan, Florida, New York, West Virginia, Kentucky. The horsemen have responded since we opened with full fields. Through Sunday, we've had fields averaging 8.4 horses a race."

Last year, fields for the 800 races averaged 7.11 starters per race. At this time last year, the fields were only 6.29 horses a race. The purse structure is the same as last year, at around $178,000 a day, so when asked if the Tapeta surface has contributed to the increase in popularity, Howells said, "Absolutely. The horsemen all say their horses come back better on it. On Sunday (May 17), it was 35 degrees overnight and they were all able to train the next morning."

Michael Trombetta, currently the second leading trainer at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, and at Presque Isle, regularly ships horses in from the three places he stables his 100 horses — Delaware Park in Delaware, as well as Fair Hill and Laurel Park in Maryland. He has eight stalls and rotates 20-30 horses in and out.

"They are very accommodating," he said. "That track will draw you in — they write a good book, the purses are on par, and the Tapeta surface is excellent. What's nice is they write races that allow you to take your horses through his conditions, at all levels."

Last year, Trombetta had 33 starts at Presque Isle and has no problem racing as many as he can there again. He trains on Tapeta at Fair Hill, but he says you cannot know how they will race on it until you try.

"I can ship in there, and if they like it, I keep them coming back," he said. "They all train well on the Tapeta."

Racing Secretary Dave Frizzell agrees that the little track is greatly improved since last year.

"A lot of horsemen were sitting and just watching the full meet, waiting to see with the surface, but I have never heard one negative comment on it," he said. "I've been a racing official for 25 years, and never seen a surface as good as this one. We have by far one of the lowest breakdown rates in the country, and everyone is pleased to be here. We led with the steroid ban, too, and now other places are following suit. Virtually every stable who was here last year re-applied."

Presque Isle Downs reported four breakdowns from 5,677 starters last year, one of the lowest rates in the country, which may be attributed in part to its Tapeta synthetic racing surface.

New faces include Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, with six stalls, and Jamie Ness, leading trainer at Tampa Bay Downs, who originally requested 59 stalls, but is happy to use the 25 stalls he was given and rotate horses in and out. To ship a horse from Fair Hill is a seven-hour van ride, as it is from Philadelphia Park. Mountaineer Park is 150 miles away, and Churchill Downs is 445 miles away.

John Moss, associate executive director of the Pennsylvania Horsemen Benevolent and Protective Association credits the Tapeta surface for the popularity of the track.

"It's low maintenance, the track man is always at the paddock to talk to horsemen, and our breakdown rate [last year] was if not the lowest in the country, pretty close to it with only four breakdowns for 5,677 starters," he said.

The slots revenue has helped keep the purse structure high. Last year's gaming revenue exceeded projections by 40 percent.

Frizzell has maiden purses at $35,000 for sprints, and $36,000 for distance races. Purses pay to last place.

"I can fill a $25,000 to $50,000 claimer no problem, and 75 percent of the allowances I write go," he said. "I have 42 horses shipping in a night, and the better the race the more likely it is to fill."

On June 20, Presque Isle Downs will hold an NTRA Day with four stakes, but its biggest coup could be already receiving a Grade 3 for its $400,000 Masters Stakes on September 12. The race is 6 ½ furlongs for fillies and mares and is a prep for the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

The scheduling of Presque Isle Downs cards at 5 p.m. ET has also helped it develop a market with bettors, bridging the gap between the East Coast daytime tracks and the West Coast tracks. Most of the advanced-deposit wagering outlets accept Presque Isle Downs wagers, including TVG, YouBet, and Twin Spires.

Posted 5/6/2009, 6:15 pm

Presque Isle Downs begins its 100-day meet Friday with a few major changes.

The $400,000 Masters, which will be run for only the third time this year, has been granted Grade 3 status. The premier event at the Erie, Pa., track, the Masters is a filly-mare sprint over Presque's Isle's Tapeta surface that is scheduled for Sept. 12. The Masters had been contested at six furlongs but will be lengthened to 6 1/2 furlongs this year.

"It has always been our goal to make it a prep for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint," racing secretary Dave Frizzell said. "I think with having it graded, the next step in the right direction is to lengthen it."

The Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint is contested at seven furlongs.

The Presque Isle Mile, the other premier event of the meet, has had its purse increased from $175,000 to $250,000. The purse includes $50,000 in Breeders' Cup supplements. The race was run July 4 last year but will be held Sept. 13 this year, the same weekend as the Masters.

The purse account at Presque Isle is fueled by 2,000 slot machines, including virtual black jack and three-card poker.

Presque Isle purses will again average $200,000 a day. A total of 18 stakes will be run, with a total value of $1.6 million. Three stakes for horses bred in Pennsylvania will be run June 20, and three stakes for horses bred and sired in Pennsylvania will be held Sept. 18.

There will be some new stables racing at Presque Isle this season. The leading trainer at Tampa Bay Downs, Jamie Ness, has stalls, as do Greg Foley, Ron Potts, and Jonathan Sheppard. Last year's leading trainer, Merrill Scherer, will return as well.

Presque Isle will have a new starter this meet as Ron Dill comes in from Tampa with most of his gate crew. Dill has been the starter at Tampa the past 10 years.

"We had snow two weeks ago here, so hopefully some of the new people from Tampa brought the weather with them," joked director of racing Debbie Howells.

The opening-day card drew 85 entrants in eight races, an increase of 28 horses from last year's eight-race card. Presque Isle has a 500-stall barn area and relies greatly on horses shipping in to race from tracks such as Mountaineer Park and Thistledown.

The Inaugural Stakes will be contested opening night. Eleven 3-year-old fillies will go postward in the six-furlong sprint. Southern Yankee has won 5 of 9 starts for trainer Oliva Iniria and comes off a 9 1/2-length win in the Hallowed Dreams at Evangeline Downs on April 11. Her ability to rate should be a big help to jockey Ricky Feliciano in the speed-laden field.

Date Posted: 5/6/2009 9:17:47 AM Last Updated: 5/6/2009 10:53:18 AM

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission has adopted a policy whereby administration of corticosteroids in horses must be stopped seven days prior race day.

The regulation takes effect June 1, according to a policy directive signed May 4. The PHRC unanimously voted for the regulation April 15.

Corticosteroids—those commonly used in horses include dexamethasone, prednisone, and triamcinolone—have strong anti-inflammatory capabilities and are designed to be used therapeutically. They are injected into joints to alleviate swelling.

During the recent Association of Racing Commissioners International convention in Lexington, Dr. Larry Soma of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, which developed the definitive test for blood-doping agents in horses, said corticosteroids are “potent drugs that have multiple actions on the body,” and are effective at low concentrations.

The drugs effect glucose metabolism, endogenous stress hormones, and electrolyte balance, and could cause behavioral changes, Soma said. “Just because you inject into the joint doesn’t mean you’re not going to have all these effects,” he said.

Used properly, corticosteroids can be beneficial at lower doses about six to seven days before a race, Soma said. But they often are administered “improperly” — 48-72 hours before a race, in multiple joints, and perhaps weekly, he said.

“Veterinarians believe they need guidelines to practice good medicine,” Soma said. “We still have effects (in racehorses) way beyond the time we can (quantify) the drug in plasma.”

Longtime PHRC member Rick Abbott, who retired after the April 15 meeting, said Soma and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania have the ability to test for corticosteroids seven days out.

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium is studying corticosteroids with the goal of developing a national policy on their use. Industry officials have indicated joint injections are commonplace in racing.

The policy directive released May 5 states the PHRC “is concerned with the health and safety of the equine athlete engaged in Thoroughbred horse racing in the commonwealth, and with the negative impact of intra-articular administration of corticosteroids in horses on or near race day.” It was recommended by the Association of Racing Regulatory Veterinarians.

The policy pertains to horses racing at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack, and Presque Isle Downs & Casino.

Date Posted: 4/30/2009 2:07:39 PM Last Updated: 4/30/2009 2:28:39 PM

A “benchmark report” on slot machines in Pennsylvania shows a 39.3% increase in purses paid at Thoroughbred and Standardbred racetracks from 2007 to 2008, but double-digit declines in total pari-mutuel handle during the same period.

The statistics, released April 29, also indicate that on-track live handle increased 6.7%, and gross revenue from slots at tracks was 11.1% higher on live racing days. There are six tracks with slots in the Keystone State, three for Thoroughbred racing and three for harness racing.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board report, second of its kind, compares figures from 2006 and 2008 as well. The first gaming machines began operating in the fall of 2006.

“With three years worth of data, some trends are starting to emerge, including the fact that the horse and harness racing facilities are enjoying an increase in gaming revenue on days when live horse racing is conducted,” PGCB director of racetrack gaming Melinda Tucker said in a statement.

In 2008, average daily gross terminal revenue generated from slots at tracks was $625,598 on non-race days and $695,430 on race days. A study commissioned by Iowa gaming officials showed the same type of increase at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

As for purses earned, the figure—Thoroughbred and harness racing combined—increased almost 40% from $144.3 million to $201.1 million from 2007 to 2008. Of the Thoroughbred tracks, Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack generated $41 million for the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund; Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, $21 million; and Presque Isle Downs & Casino, $20 million.

Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack led the harness tracks with $39 million in funds for racing programs, followed by The Meadows Racetrack & Casino at $29 million, and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs at $22 million.

Mt. Airy resort, a slots casino in the Pocono Mountains, produced $21 million for horse racing in the state. Non-racing slots facilities contribute 6% of gross terminal revenue by law.

Total Thoroughbred handle, which includes imported signals, dropped 11.3% from $741.9 million in 2007 to $657.9 million in 2008. From 2006 to 2008, it dropped 15.3%. Total harness handle dropped 12% from 2007 to 2008, and 15.2% from 2006 to 2008.

Total race days in Pennsylvania increased by 11.8% from 838 in 2007 to 937 in 2008.

Gary Sojka, a PGCB member and agriculturalist, said the benchmark report helps gauge the progress of the 2004 law that authorized slots in Pennsylvania. “The improvement of our racing industry, spurred by the tremendous success of legalized slots gaming, has a direct impact on farmland preservation and a beneficial trickle-down on the entire agricultural community in the commonwealth,” he said.

Date Posted: 3/31/2009 10:56:15 AM

The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association has released a 2009 stakes schedule of 27 events worth a total of $2.375 million.

The highlight is the Sept. 19 “Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races” at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack. Five stakes valued at $625,000 will be offered, including a new event, the $200,000 PA Horse Breeders Distaff for fillies and mares at seven furlongs.

Fifteen of the state-bred stakes will be raced at Philly Park, six at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, and six at Presque Isle Downs & Casino.

Most of the stakes will be packaged on certain days. On May 29, Penn National will host four stakes valued at $350,000; June 20, Presque Isle will offer three stakes worth $275,000; July 18, three stakes worth $225,000 will be run at Philly Park; and Aug. 21, Presque Isle will host three events valued at $225,000.

Along with the new Distaff, “Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races” includes the $125,000 Smarty Jones Classic for 3-year-olds and up, and three $100,000 events: the Devil’s Honor Handicap, Mrs. Penny Stakes, and Mr. Jenney Handicap.

The Pennsylvania-bred stakes slate begins May 9 with two stakes at Philly Park, and ends Nov. 28 as usual with the $75,000 PA Nursery Stakes for 2-year-olds.

At the January meeting of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, Presque Isle Downs (PID) requested an extended stay on the requirement to construct new barns at Presque Isle Downs. PID cited economic conditions and lack of demand for stalls. The Pennsylvania HBPA finds the request unwarranted due to the exceptional financial performance of the PID facility and the demand for stalls at the 2008 race meet. We will continue our attempts to ensure that the barns are built to meet the full complement of stalls outlined in PID’s original racetrack license application.

The construction of the groom’s quarters will continue as originally scheduled.

The 2009 racing schedules at both Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (HCPNRC) and Presque Isle Downs (PID) were approved by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission at its December 2008 monthly meeting. The approved calendars consists of 215 racing days at HCPNRC and 100 racing days at PID, with racing at PID commencing on May 8.

The Pennsylvania Breeding Fund is expected to take a financial hit due to the projected deficit of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission through fiscal year end June 2009. By law, any deficit is to be made up by both the Thoroughbred and Standardbred Breeding Fund. The anticipated deficit is $6 million to be split equally. The $3 million allocation to the Thoroughbred side will adversely impact the programs at both Presque Isle Downs and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

If you are planning to race Pennsylvania-breds at Presque Isle Downs, please call the Pennsylvania HBPA office prior to shipping to get the latest update on how the program will be affected. The issue is currently very fluid, and we should have more details closer to the 2009 opening of the stable area.

The 2009 stakes schedule at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (HCPNRC) has been set. The $560,000 schedule will be headlined by our signature race, the Governor’s Cup. The race will be five furlongs on the grass for three-year-olds and up and will carry a $200,000 purse. The Jenny Wade, to be run the same weekend, will carry a $100,000 purse for fillies and mares, three-years-old and up, going a distance of five furlongs. The remaining stakes will consist of two $70,000 overnight and two $60,000 overnight stakes.

Posted: Monday, February 23, 2009 7:21 PM

Difficulties in marketing Thoroughbred racing to casino patrons are evident when glancing at billboards dotting various interstate highways in the vicinity of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

The advertisements feature happy casino patrons brandishing freshly won jackpots but do not offer any hint that live racing and simulcasting is available year-round at the Grantville, Pennsylvania, facility.

Industry officials speaking at the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress and Mid-Atlantic Racing Forum on Monday in Harrisburg agreed that cross-marketing racing to racino customers is a tough sell.

”I have no panacea; no magic pill to market a racing model that’s not attractive to a new audience,” said Gary Luderitz, general manager of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. “We need a powerful kind of change in the industry.”

Luderitz said the industry needed the racino funds to stabilize the state’s racetracks, generating an infusion that increased purses at Penn National to $140,000 per day.

“Before we could have a dramatic change in marketing, racing needed to be [financially] stabilized and made viable as a business,” Luderitz said. “The casino has brought in tens of thousands of patrons, which has had an obvious increase in our live handle.”

Luderitz said on-track handle at Penn National increased to $7.1-million in 2008 from $4.2-million in ‘07.

Shonette Harrison, vice president of casino marketing at Harrah’s Chester Racetrack and Casino, said it was tricky to find similarities between racing and gaming patrons.

Harrison said the largest demographic of casino slot machine players, women in their 40s and 50s, find horse racing complicated and intimidating.

“They say it’s too hard to learn and that there’s too much of a stigma attached. They’re not going to handicap,” Harrison said.

Harrison said crossover from casino patrons continues to be big on important national racing days and that it is easy to expose the non-racing fan to the product during those times of the year.

She added that Internet and telephone account wagering, along with a smoking ban in the simulcast area, has served to depress attendance at Harrah’s Chester.

However, Mike Tanner, who held several management positions at Gulfstream Park from 1993-2005, said the still-growing Pennsylvania racino industry has a unique opportunity to market to both casino and racing patrons.

“We have an antiquated product and an aging customer base,” Tanner said. “We need to take a hard look at the wagering model and start looking at betting exchanges rather than fixed-odds. We need to revisit and rebrand the way racing is presented and renew transparency.”

Tanner said ancillary evidence shows that pari-mutuel patrons play the casino slots after live racing concludes but the synergy does not exist both ways.

Kim Hankins, executive director of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, called for the creation of a Pennsylvania racing television network that would serve as a simulcasting cooperative.

“During the day, we could have three Thoroughbred track signals and at night three harness track signals. We could coordinate post times so a race can be run every seven to ten minutes,” Hankins said. “The tracks would get a break on costs and advertising opportunities would be there for casinos, racetracks, and breeders.”

Luderitz said a pointed beginning and end to Thoroughbred racing seasons in the state would be beneficial.

Currently, Penn National and Philadelphia Park hold year-round live racing. Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pennsylvania, has a 100-date live meeting.

“We need to get together as an industry for more arbitrary racing dates,” Luderitz said. “I don’t know if we can create a renewal the way that a bonafide racing season would.”

Published: Thursday, January 15, 2009 1:55 AM CST

Jon Moss considers his role in horse racing to be that of a peacekeeper.

The son of Fonner Park trainers Joe and Lisa Moss is the assistant executive director of the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. For six months each year, the younger Moss is based at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he deals with a wide variety of racing-related issues.

“That’s my job essentially,” the 28-year-old Moss said. “I try to avert disaster before disaster occurs and try to mitigate problems before they do occur. I have to do all those things, and it’s constant.”

Horse owners and trainers are members of the HBPA, which also tries to protect the interests of other racetrack employees like grooms and jockeys. HBPA members who have a problem dealing with everything from questions about post-race testing to management decisions can seek help from Moss, a 1998 Grand Island Senior High graduate.

“There’s always something happening,” Moss said. “Whether it’s between horsemen, between track management, between the racing officials, things are constantly occurring.”

Moss and his wife, Jessica, are in the process of closing on the purchase of a house in Grand Island. By mid-April, Moss will relocate to Presque Isle Downs and will live in Pennsylvania until mid-October.

Job flexibility enables Moss to spend six months in Nebraska every year when Presque Isle Downs is not running a live racing meet. He continues to work for and be paid by the Pennsylvania HBPA even when he’s not near his office at the track.

“I’m kind of on for six months and off for six months in a sense,” Moss said. “During the offseason, I can be anywhere and everywhere I want to be. A lot of the work that I continue to do is by e-mail and telecommunication. It’s nothing I have to be at the track for.”

Moss was hired by the Pennsylvania HBPA after earning a bachelor of science degree in animal sciences in 2006 from the University of Arizona’s Racetrack Industry Program. The four-year program allows those interested in horse racing careers to gain valuable knowledge about a number of aspects of the sport, including track management and media relations.

Moss entered college with the idea of being a veterinarian, but scrapped that idea after realizing it would take eight years to complete all of his classes. He then switched to electrical engineering, a field that would allow him to fulfill a dream of being a Thoroughbred owner.

“I loved racing and I wanted to be an owner. I thought I’d try to go the money way but it wasn’t going to work,” Moss said. “I wasn’t one of those people I was going to be able to do something that I didn’t like to have a hobby.”

Joe Moss said he instructed his son early in his college career to make sure he chose a career he would be happy with. He said he is glad that his son is “an official — and not cleaning stalls.”

“I told him, ‘I don’t care if you’re a ditch digger or a tree hugger or a brain surgeon. Just get the bachelor’s and do what you want to do,’” the trainer said. “When you get up in the morning, you want a job when you say, ‘Oh good--it’s a work day.’ You want a job you like. That was my criteria.”

The younger Moss began his college career at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, then transferred to the University of Arizona. After working as an intern at Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona, Iowa, Moss landed his current job, which requires constant interaction with horsemen.

Moss’s office at Presque Ise Downs is located right by the paddock, the area that horses are saddled in prior to a race. That makes Moss easily accessible to anyone with concerns.

“It’s very time consuming and very demanding doing it the way that I want to do it,” Moss said. “I try to walk the barns a minimum of once a week if not two or three times a week just to say, ‘Hi.’”

The national HBPA office is located in Lexington, Ky. Numerous states have local offices that are always available to help trackers out in times of need.

If a horsemen with limited financial resources needs a plane ticket to attend to a family emergency, the benevolence division of the HBPA can lend a hand. The organization also represents horsemen at a wide variety of meetings and before track management, which can be frustrating at times for Moss.

Presque Isle Downs is a racino — it combines slot machines with live racing. Moss said that combination makes track management at Presque Isle Downs more difficult to deal with at times than a conventional track like Fonner.

“At Presque, I deal with individuals who know very little about racing,” Moss said. “It’s very difficult for them to understand that you need certain things. They’re more into gaming.”

Construction of two new barns and grooms quarters is scheduled to begin sometime this fall. The new barns will be similar to those that currently exist at Presque Isle Downs. It is anticipated that the new barn construction will be completed prior to the opening of the 2009 race meet, enabling the stabling of an additional 200 horses. The grooms’ quarters will be dormitory style, with the initial phase of construction consisting of sleeping quarters for 66 individuals. Additional quarters will be constructed in the second phase of the project.

The 2009 racing schedules at both Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (HCPNRC) and Presque Isle Downs (PID) will be submitted for approval at the November meeting of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission. It is anticipated the Commission will approve the schedule of 215 days at HCPNRC and 100 days at PID, with racing commencing on May 8, 2009.

The Pennsylvania HBPA’s 2008 Christmas Party will be held on Monday, December 10 at 6:30 p.m. The location will be the Holiday Inn Grantville. Tickets can be purchased in the Pennsylvania HBPA office for $10 during normal business hours. Come join us for an evening of good food and good fun.

The threshold levels for the four anabolic steroids approved for use in the equine were officially lowered as of October 1, 2008, by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission (PSHRC). The new plasma threshold levels are as follows:

Boldenone – 100 pg/ml

Stanozolol – 100 pg/ml

Nandrolone – 500 pg/ml

Testosterone – 100 pg/ml in females and geldings, 2,000 pg/ml in the intact male The official recommended withdrawal time for Clenbuterol in Pennsylvania has been changed to 48 hours from the previous 24 hour recommendation.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control approved the medical insurance plan submitted by the Pennsylvania HBPA at the September 30 meeting. This approval was the last regulatory hurdle needed to implement the insurance provisions provided by ACT 71, the Gaming Act. All eligible members began full medical insurance coverage as of November 1. If you are an eligible member and have not received your insurance cards, please contact the Pennsylvania HBPA office immediately. The office number is (717) 469-2970.

After a brief suspension of the $200 payback, due to action taken by HCPNRC, the $200 was reinstated with the November 11, 2008 racing card. The Pennsylvania HBPA Board of Directors apologize for any inconvenience or hardship the brief suspension may have caused and thanks you for your understanding as we worked to reinstate the payback.

Posted: Sunday, November 02, 2008 7:06 PM

Live racing returned to Penn National Race Course on October 31 with management, jockeys, and trainers giving high marks to the newly refurbished racing surface.

Racing at the Grantville, Pennsylvania, track ceased after the September 21 card for a complete renovation of the main track. Training resumed at Penn National on October 27.

The new, reddish-orange main track surface is a combination of clay, silt, and two types of sand, said Rob Marella, director of racing for Penn National.

Marella said resurfacing the track’s entire limestone base was the most time-consuming aspect of the project.

“It had been patched a few times and it looked like an old road,” Marella said.

Track officials laid a clay-based product commonly referred to as baseball diamond mix on top of the new limestone base. Marella said fine sand, designed to enhance the cushion, recently was added.

Jockeys Katie Lee and Jorge Tipa said they were pleased with the track during training hours and racing.

“I thought it was fair,” Lee said. “It’s apparent they did more work on the base. I was concerned Monday when it rained that some of the stone dust on the base might be coming up, but racing on it was beautiful. Nobody took any bad steps. Some of the clay sticks to you, but not much.”

“It’s a great track in comparison to the last,” Tipa said. “There aren’t any holes and I haven’t seen any horses stumble—80% of horses on the backstretch have trained over it.”

Winter weather is always problematic in Grantville, Pennsylvania, but Marella said officials are hopeful that the new surface and new maintenance equipment will lessen the number of cancellations.

Penn National received approval last month from the state’s Horse Racing Commission to run five-day weeks on a Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule for the remainder of the year with the exceptions of November 27 and December 24, 25, and 31. First post time is 6:45 p.m. EST.

Date Posted: 10/30/2008 5:55:56 PM Last Updated: 10/30/2008 5:55:56 PM

Live racing returns Oct. 31 at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course after the racing track was closed in September amid alleged surface issues.

The track, which traditionally races year-round, was closed Sept. 21 when work began on a project to put down a new racing surface. Horsemen at the time claimed the surface condition contributed to an increased number of catastrophic breakdowns, a charge track officials disputed, saying a planned renovation for 2009 was simply moved up in schedule.

The work was completed late last weekend and local training began on Oct. 27, the track reported in a news release. Nine races are scheduled for the Oct. 31 card, which has a first post-time of 6:45 p.m., EDT. Live racing is scheduled to run five nights a week, Tuesday through Sunday, for the remainder of the year, the release said.

Trainer Tim Ritchey, a perennial leader at Delaware Park, and conditioner of 2005 Preakness (gr. I) and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Afleet Alex, will saddle 8-5 morning line favorite Bank of Dad in the $17,400 third race. The 3-year old gelding won for a $25,000 claiming tag on August 30 and drops to meet six $10,000 foes.

David Cora heads into the final two months of the 2008 campaign with 101 wins, 14 ahead of William Otero. Stephanie Beattie tops all trainers with 72 winners, two ahead of last year’s leader Murray Rojas.

Posted: Monday, October 27, 2008 5:15 PM

A large merger termination settlement payment helped Penn National Gaming register a significant earnings increase in the third quarter.

Net revenue for the quarter jumped 217% to $147.5-million thanks to a termination fee from Fortress Investment Group and Centerbridge Partners, who pulled out of a $5.82-billion deal to acquire the casino and racetrack owner in July.

Quarterly revenue, which did not include the termination fee, dipped 1.8% to $617.9-million.

“Third quarter operating results were impacted by a confluence of factors including the economy, smoking bans, lobbying costs, personnel separation payments, and disruption related to hurricanes,” said Peter Carlino, chief executive officer of Penn National Gaming.

Penn National also paid $170,000 to groups opposing casino-type gaming referenda in Maryland, Ohio, and Maine. Allocations will continue into the fourth quarter.

The third quarter marked the opening of a 153-room on-site hotel at Charles Town Races and the opening of a 1,000-machine slot facility at Hollywood Slots Hotel and Raceway in Bangor, Maine. The company continued to benefit from this year’s opening of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

“Given the many challenges that the industry faced during the third quarter of 2008, we believe that the results generated by Penn National during the period underscore the long-term attractiveness of the gaming sector,” Carlino said.

Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008 3:31 PM

Pennsylvania’s phased-in rules and penalties for anabolic steroids in horses kicked into full effect on October 1.

Pennsylvania initiated its steroid ban in April but most positive tests carried only a reprimand and only severe violations carried any type of penalty. That changed at the beginning of this month.

Any test that reveals more than 100 picograms per milliliter of boldenone, stanozolol, nandrolone, or testosterone in females or geldings will be considered a violation. In in-tact males, the threshold for a positive test for testosterone is 2,000 picograms per milliliter and for nandrolone it is 500 picograms per milliliter. All other steroids are banned.

For a first offense, purse money will be forfeited and the trainer will be fined $500. Any time there is an offense, the horse will be placed on a veterinarian’s list and ineligible to race until it tests negative.

For a second offense, the fine is increased to $1,000 and the trainer will be suspended for 15 days. For a third offense, the fine moves to $2,500 and suspension to 30 days.

From March through June, Pennsylvania reported 107 steroid positives. Only severe cases faced sanctions, and racing commission director of operations Joe Mushalko said no trainer was penalized since May 29, when Ryan Beattie was fined $500 for a violation at Presque Isle Downs.

Mushalko said horsemen seem to be adjusting to the new steroid policy but he noted that the threshold standards were lowered at the beginning of this month. Previously, only positives at the 200-picogram per milliliter level received a reprimand.

Posted: Monday, October 06, 2008 3:25 PM

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has appointed Corinne Sweeney, D.V.M., chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Racing Commission while also naming John Hannum to the commission.

Both new commissioners bring years of experience in horses and racing to the commission, which had been functioning with just a single commissioner in Rick Abbott.

Sweeney is a professor of medicine at New Bolton Center and serves as chief operating officer for the University of Pennsylvania’s George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals. Hannum has worked as an assistant trainer and recently owned horses in England, where he competed as an amateur steeplechase jockey.

“Pennsylvania has made great strides in advancing our world-class racing industry, ensuring that the state remains a great place to raise, race, and enjoy horses,” Rendell said. “These new racing officials bring with them a wealth of racing knowledge and will help propel Pennsylvania racing into a prosperous future."

Date Posted: 9/29/2008 12:51:32 PM Last Updated: 9/30/2008 11:36:39 AM

Presque Isle Downs reported a total handle of $31,425,213 for its 101-day meet that ended Sept. 28, a stand that was 76 days longer than the track’s inaugural meet last year.

Off-track wagering was $27,473,240 while on-track handle was $3,951,973 for the 800 races during the meet, which kicked off May 9. Purse distribution was reported at $22.29 million.

The track, which is located near Erie, Pa., averaged 7.11 starters per race, with a reported 25.4% of the races being determined by a half-length or less. Post-time favorites won 36% of the races, it was reported.

The 2008 Pennsylvania HBPA Christmas party will be held at the Holiday Inn Grantville on Tuesday, December 16. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for an evening of good food, dancing, and fun. Tickets will go on sale in mid-November.

The Pennsylvania HBPA announces inactive accounts in the Horsemen’s Bookkeeping Account at Penn National. In accordance with the Live Racing Agreement, Penn National furnished a list of accounts which have been inactive for a period of four (4) years. The names on those inactive accounts are set forth below.

Holders of inactive accounts should contact the Pennsylvania HBPA at P. O. Box 88, Grantville, PA 17028, telephone – (717) 469-2970, fax – (717) 469-7714.

All inactive accounts which remain unclaimed one (1) year after the date of this publication will be paid to the Pennsylvania HBPA’s Benevolent Fund.

The account names are: A. Christine & James V. Kinsey; A. Ziccardi & G. Leonhardt; Justin Abbey; Diane Allen; Sandra Alzate; William D. Anderson; Philip Angelo; Rene Araya; Alexander Atkinson; Atlantic Eight Racing IV; B K Racing LLC; Vernard W. Bacon; John Baffa; Jane W. Baker; Barbara Kees & Sherry Rudolph; Judith M. Barrett; Frank T. Batten; Gary L. Baumgardner; William Beicher; The Blind Squirrel & Christine Mayo; Bloodline Farms; Tanya Windsor Boulmetis; Arthur T. Brede; George E. Brennan; Briardale ZZZZZZZZZZ; David E. (Dave) Brown; Robert R. Brown; Ferdinand Bruzzese; Rita Buchman; Deanna Burns; C & L Stables LLC; Barbara Cainion; Laura Carlton; John A. Casey; Helen G. Casson; Charanne Farm & Flint Stites; Charter Farms; Mau Dau Chaugon; Chiro-Track Stable; 3 Ring Circus; Edward Ciresa; Clarice Bushee & Joseph Thomas; Frank Clark; William T. Codd; .Com Racing Stable; Contrarian Stable; Carol Cooper; Robert E. Coram; Amy E. Cortez; Elmer Coursey; Thomas (Tommie) Crump; Dean Delta Loggia & G. Flores; Floyd Decker; Della Fox Stables; Michael Devincentis; Cecil D. Dickinson; Donna Lynn Dickson; Domenic DiNorscia; Chris Dipetrillo; Don Brown & Tradewinds Stable LLC; Heather Dreyfuss; DSB Stable; Ray Enlow; Lewis Episcopo; Delval Equine; Alison Farwell; Robert L. Feinberg; Stephen R. Ferguson; Finish Line Racing Stable; Mark Fisher; Foxbrook Farm; Fun Time Stable; Gerard & Daniel Collins; Peter E. Gonella; Jerry Lee Green; Timothy L. Griffin; Sherry Grove; William F. Guerro; Gumpster Stable & Anthony Centrione, Jr.; Roberta Hill-Cogswell; Randall L. Hinkle; Stephen M. Hochman; Houyhnhnm Stable; Howard Newstadt & Michael Moran; Darlene Hoy; Shelley G. Huber; Hubert Pilcher & Lucy Webb; Michelle Hummert; Indian Mills Stock & J. Nash; Irish Dog Stable; J J Eaton Racing; Elizabeth Jackson; Donna Janis; Jeffrey Cramer & Mark Legetto; Jilerlane Stable; Katherine E. Johnson; Mary Jordan; Dimitrios Kaitis; Kerrigan Stable; Kevin Anderson & William DeVoe; Kevin C. & Charles A. Kargus; Kinsman & Cheryl Wright; Michael Klesaris; Daulph A. Kline; Knick & Kned Stables; Kenneth Knight; Timothy Korengel; Steven C. Koslov; Diane Lang; Last Chance Stable; Lawrence M. Smith & John G. Gredlein; Victor Jr. A. Leonhard; Dane Lupo; Lynch Racing LLC and Louis Fabiano; M. Enck & B. Williams R. Aument; W. R. MacKinnon; William Jr. C. MacMillen; Madeline Farro & Jet M Stables; Donald C. Mahan; Michael Marceda; Virginia Martino; Alfred Masilowski; Maui Meadow Farm; Crystal May; Mark McGreevy; Ronald (Ron) McKee; Pinky Mendoza; Michael Enck & Jim Kinsey; Janet Morgan; A. Wayne Nash; Niskayuna Stable; Don Nitchman; Normandy Farm; Nyala Farm; Barry E. Oberdorff; Michael G. Pacitti; Martha Pagliei; Charles Jr. Papan; Path Valley Manor Stables LLC; Patricia Bellucci & Doris Dohner; Peppermint Farms; Carolyn Pescatello; William F. Petersen; Philip & Janet Pace; Antonio Poli; Sergio Pradenas; R.D.M. Racing Stable; R. Makarovich Jr. & R. Kreis; Rabbits Foot Stable; Elizabeth A. Miller & Frances Ramming; Robert Jr. Reese; Rich Meadows Farm; Allen J. Richards; Roberta N. Riffle; Justin Ritchie; Grace Ritzenberg; Joseph Rodi; Ronald & Kim Abrams; Mark Russell; Ryan Farm LLC; Phillip Rynn; Sidney Sacks; R. David Sadoo; Robert Safian; Sharden Stable; William Shook; Cheryl Smith; W. Raymond Smith; Sno-doh-bell Stable; C. Rose Spencer; Sharon Stambaugh; Kendel (Ken) Standlee; Caroline C. Stautberg; Sure Find Farm; T R Zee Stable; Talley Holmes & Charles Brooks; Anthony Tavalario; Samuel J. (Sam) Thorpe; Phil Todesco; Tomorrow’s Dream Farm; Touchdown Stable; Tulip Hill Farm; Sidney Underwood; V B F Stables; Jerry Vanek; Robert L. Vannote; Joseph Walsh; Thomas Webb; Malcolm T. Wendt; Walter Jr. F. Wickes; Wifeandthreedaughters Stable; Win More II Inc.; Clarence Woodlyn; Timothy Yee; Robert E. Yourman; and Mary Zeppetelli.

The R.A.C.E. Fund was recently launched at Penn National racetrack. The Penn National HBPA contributed substantial funding to initiate the program. The R.A.C.E Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that’s purpose is to be a retirement fund for Thoroughbred horses supported primarily by entities in the racing industry to help fund and facilitate racehorse retirement and rescue. Most of the funds are used to pay a per-diem amount to a participating rescue facility when a horse from Penn National is placed with a rescue until the horse is rehabilitated and adopted out. Some horses, based on their injuries or temperament, will remain at a rescue as a companion horse. The majority of horses are placed with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). However, some horses are also sent to smaller participating rescues such as Bright Futures Farm, High Hopes Farm, Another Chance 4 Horses, and Lost and Found.

The R.A.C.E. Fund recently placed Britteny’s Joy, a four-year-old filly, with Bright Futures Farm in Spartansburg, Pennsylvania. Soon after, on July 19, six more horses were sent to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in Kentucky.

“This fund is about and for the horses, and it is wonderful to be able to help them after their racing careers are over. It is only right that the horses receive a portion of the revenue for their well being. Without this fund, we would not be able to help them, and that is why it is so very important that this fund remain successful and perpetually funded by the industry,” commented R.A.C.E. Fund President Marlene Murray.

“We are hopeful the R.A.C.E. Fund will set a precedent for funding for racehorse retirement and rescue and we will be able to duplicate it at other tracks in the future,” stated Vice President Patricia Bewley.

“It takes time for rescues to rehabilitate horses from certain injuries or teach them another discipline,” remarked Secretary-Treasurer Diana Meyers. She continued, “The R.A.C.E. Fund will help offset some of the rescues costs.”

Stephanie Tate, a longtime veteran owner and trainer, is also a Board member of the R.A.C.E. Fund and does much of the legwork on the backside making sure new Horse Intake Forms are picked up timely in the HBPA office and forwarded for processing, etc. Stephanie pointed out, “So far, the R.A.C.E. Fund program seems to be working well, and we are very pleased about that.”

More information about the R.A.C.E. Fund can be obtained at www.racefund.org.

Posted: Saturday, August 30, 2008 1:49 PM

Live racing at Penn National Race Course will be suspended after the racing card on September 20 so the track can begin resurfacing the entire racetrack cushion.

The project is expected to last through October.

“This project was originally being prepared as part of our 2009 capital planning process but accelerating the work will assist our track maintenance staff in their efforts going into the fall and winter racing seasons,” said Rob Marella, director of racing.

Joe Santanna, president of the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association , said the racing surface at Penn National had become a growing concern.

Penn National expects to mix approximately 8,000 tons of silt and sand for the new track cushion to form a depth of about 3 1/2 inches around the one-mile racetrack.

The limestone base will undergo repairs to some areas on the outside of the track.

“The base incorporating the inner racing paths is in solid condition, but with removing the entire cushion we are provided the opportunity to firm up the outside portions of the base as well,” Marella said.

“We are building some time into the project to account for possible weather factors, but feel confident the work can be done in a timely basis so the downtime affecting our horsemen and track-related staff is held to a minimum.”

Santanna said in April the Pennsylvania HBPA had an opportunity to have a racetrack expert analyze the racetrack at Penn National and agreed to cover the cost, but Penn National expressed no interest in allowing that to happen.

“For about the last year, our board, the HBPA board of Pennsylvania, has had some concern about the racetrack surface—just because those guys that go up there every day came back and said that the racetrack needs some attention,” Santanna said. “We go through winterization and summarization, so you do have some changes with the racetrack.”

Santanna, who is also president of the National HBPA, said a rash of breakdowns from April through June led the Pennsylvania HBPA continued to intensify their efforts to get the track resurfaced. They sent letter in June indicating that it had become an emergency and needed to be done sooner than originally budgeted for 2009.

Penn National subsequently contacted a racetrack analyst, who determined that the racetrack needed resurfacing, and Penn National agreed to begin the process on September 20.

“In this age of health and welfare of horses, it’s extremely disrespectful to our members who make the investment and work with the horses 24-7 to have them go up there and snap their leg off,” Santanna said. “We’re absolutely delighted that they finally agreed to get the track analyzed by an independent party, and that report clearly indicates that the racetrack surface is in need of repair. We are delighted that they have agreed to accelerate the capital project immediately.

“It will require some temporary difficult time, because we race year-round, and if we are going to go five or six weeks without the ability to train we are trying right now to find some systematic, orderly, and safe way to get horses relocated.”

Santanna said the Pennsylvania HBPA asked Penn National consider installing a synthetic surface and offered as an example Presque Isle Downs, which he said has had only three breakdowns since April 10. Santanna said the request to open discussions about installing a synthetic surface was denied.

“I understand it is their racetrack and their property, and they have the right to feel the way they want to feel,” Santanna said.

Date Posted: 8/20/2008 8:35:53 AM Last Updated: 8/21/2008 10:59:24 AM

The Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has reached an agreement with the Jockeys’ Guild and Jockeys at Penn National Inc. to increase the minimum losing mount fee to $75 for all finishes below third-place.

The Jockeys’ Guild represents riders at Presque Isle Downs & Casino, while Jockeys at Penn National Inc. represents riders at Hollywood Casino at Penn National. The parties at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack previously struck a deal on losing mount fees.

“Now that we have integrated purses from gaming into the overall purse structure, we have come to the point where this increase can be accommodated by increasing the losing purse to owners to $200 per horse or the existing percentage, whichever is greater,” Pennsylvania HBPA president Joe Santanna said. “It is a win-win situation, and we are fortunate to be in the position to take this action. I applaud the representatives from each jockeys’ organization for the professional manner that culminated in the action.”

While the increase in both losing jockey mount fees and owners losing purses will occur Aug. 20 at Penn National, both increases will be delayed at Presque Isle until an agreement is reached between the racetrack and the Pennsylvania HBPA on increasing the owners’ losing purse.

Though in agreement on the increase in the jockey mount fee, officials at Presque Isle rejected the request for the owner increase, the horsemen’s group said. Negotiations will continue.

“We’re happy to have an agreement with the Pennsylvania HBPA at Presque Isle Downs for the remainder of the 2008 season,” said Terry Meyocks, national manager of the Jockeys’ Guild. “We hope the HBPA and Presque Isle Downs can quickly work out their disagreement so that the new agreement is implemented.”

Date Posted: 7/28/2008 12:47:55 PM Last Updated: 7/28/2008 4:21:34 PM

Total purses earned at Pennsylvania racetracks jumped 162% from 2006 to 2007 because of revenue from on-track slot machines, while the percentage of purses earned from pari-mutuel wagering dropped substantially during the same period, accord to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s first “benchmark report” on the impact of slots on pari-mutuel wagering.

The report, which looks at pari-mutuel wagering in 2006-07, focuses on revenue from slots and the various indicators of pari-mutuel health such as purses, handle, and export of the Pennsylvania signal, which has become more popular in the simulcast marketplace.

“This first report is important because it establishes a baseline from which to compare subsequent years of pari-mutuel activity,” Melinda Tucker, the PGCB director of racetrack gaming, said in a statement accompanying the report. “Future reports, including next year’s, which will include complete figures for 2008, will provide a better and clearer picture of the future for horse racing in Pennsylvania, and the impact of slots gaming at those facilities.”

Purses earned at six Pennsylvania tracks—three Thoroughbred and three Standardbred—totaled $55,008,645 million in 2006, and $144,288,260 in 2007. The first slot machines began operating in November 2006 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, a harness track, and December 2006 at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack.

In 2006, $52,932,992 in purse money—96.23% of the total—came from pari-mutuel handle, according to PGCB statistics. In 2007, handle produced $51,939,704 for purses, only 36% of the total. Slots revenue last year generated $92,348,556 for purses—64% of total purses paid.

Racetracks that had slots for all or part of 2007 are Philly Park and Presque Isle Downs & Casino (Thoroughbred), and Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack, The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, and Pocono Downs (harness). Hollywood Casino at Penn National did open its slots casino until February 2008.

The PGCP report shows total handle in Pennsylvania (live and imported signals at racetracks, off-track betting parlors, and through account wagering) decreased 4.39% from $974.8 million in 2006 to $931.9 million in 2007. Thoroughbred handle dropped from $777.6 million in 2006 to $741.9 million in 2007, while Standardbred handle dipped from $197.2 million in 2006 to $190 million in 2007.

On-track handle on live racing held its own, though an increase in the number of race days played a major role. On-track live handle in 2007 was $40.9 million, down slightly from $41.3 million the previous year.

Of the $625.3 million in total handle on Pennsylvania racing last year, 80.4% came from out-of-state betting outlets, the report states. On-track accounted for 6.5%, off-track 3.8%, and account wagering 2.3%.

Not surprisingly for many tracks with slots and higher purses, export handle (to in-state and out-of-state outlets) is on the rise. It increased 10.8% ($493.7 million to $547 million) from 2006 to 2007.

Total race days increased 10.8%, from 756 in 2006 to 838 in 2007, while number of races increased 15% from 7,958 in 2006 to 9,153 in 2007.

Gross terminal revenue from slots totaled more than $1.03 billion in 2007, the report states. The top producers were Harrah’s Chester at $285,978,663, and Philly Park at $285,032,169. Both tracks are located in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Article published Jul 10, 2008

Presque Isle Downs & Casino will expand later this year when it starts to build more on-site quarters for both horses and humans.

The track will build two more barns -- with 100 stalls in each one -- and a building that will serve as the sleeping and showering quarters for 66 grooms, who take care of the horses. Construction will start sometime after the racing season ends Sept. 27.

Presque Isle Downs gave those assurances Wednesday to the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, which held its monthly meeting at the track in Summit Township.

The commission meets once a year at Presque Isle Downs.

The panel also heard that two horses suffered catastrophic breakdowns and were euthanized since May 9, the beginning of this year's meet. But the "breakdown rate" of 0.96 per 1,000 horses is less than one-half the national average of two per 1,000 horses, said officials from the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

"We believe that's directly influenced by the racing surface at Presque Isle Downs," said Jon Moss, associate executive director of the state HBPA.

The cushioning from the artificial surface of sand, rubber and fiber at the track is supposed to reduce the number of injuries, though three horses were euthanized after catastrophic injuries during the opening 25-night meet in September.

"That was probably too small a statistical sample to get valid numbers," Commissioner Richard Abbott said. "I think this summer will be a better" sample.

As for the horse stalls, the track opened with 500, the same number that it has for this racing season. While an average of 55 percent of the stalls were occupied during the 25-day September meet, the average occupancy is now 90 percent for this season, said Richard Knight, Presque Isle Downs' chief executive.

The track is trying to strike a balance between too few and too many on-site rental stalls for the horses.

Abbott said the track gradually could expand by adding 200 stalls before the 2009 racing season and another 300 the following year. That would take the track to its original plan of 1,000 stalls.

Abbott said that without additional stalls, more horses couldn't be shipped here for races. The other side of the argument, he said, is that more stalls could sit empty if they're not all being filled now.

"They have to find a balance where they have enough stalls to fill the races," he said.

While Presque Isle Downs said it would build 200 more stalls, Knight said the other 300 would be built if they were needed. "We also said they won't be needed. We think this will satisfy everything," he said.

More horses would increase the size of the fields, adding excitement to the races and increasing the wagers.

But Knight said Presque Isle Downs has averaged 6.7 horses per race this year, through July 4. Philadelphia Park Racetrack is averaging 7.9 horses per race, and Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg is averaging 7.5 horses per race, though both of the state's other two thoroughbred tracks have more than twice as many stalls as the Summit Township track, he said.

Knight said it's more a question of the horses' availability.

Abbott agreed that on the East Coast, there's not enough horses for the summertime races at all of the tracks. And he said it's not easy to ship horses from Philadelphia Park to Erie, both because there's not a direct highway link, and "it's a hike" between the state's largest and fourth-largest cities.

But Abbott said horses are coming to Erie from Penn National, as well as from Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland -- which has the same artificial Tapeta surface as Presque Isle Downs' track.

Presque Isle Downs, meanwhile, reported that it planned to complete the wiring Wednesday for the installation of fans in the existing barns. Middle-aisle fans would improve airflow, said Moss, who is based at Presque Isle Downs.

As for the on-site grooms' quarters, Abbott said they are a condition of the track's horse-racing license. Presque Isle Downs has been granted a temporary exception because it was under a deadline to open in 2007, he said.

For now, Presque Isle Downs pays to house the grooms at a nearby motel.

Abbott, however, said on-site grooms' quarters are preferred because many grooms live at the tracks and don't have cars, and the closer access allows the horses to be watched more closely.

Knight said the track is considering two different types of construction but is leaning toward a prefabricated building with 33 rooms -- two beds to a room -- along with bathrooms, showers and vending machine area. Other showers would be built for grooms who don't stay overnight at the track, he said.

Knight said he doesn't know whether the track would ask the commission if it could charge the grooms a nominal rental fee -- less than $10 a day. "It's up for debate whether they would pay rent," he said. Knight did not know the estimated cost of construction for the grooms' quarters and additional stalls.

Date Posted: 7/3/2008 1:06:30 PM Last Updated: 7/4/2008 10:26:22 AM

Penn National Gaming Inc. has entered into an agreement with PNG Acquisition Co., an entity indirectly owned by certain funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC and Centerbridge Partners, L.P., to terminate the proposed merger agreement whereby PNGI was to be acquired by PNG Acquisition Co. for $67 per share, the company said July 3.

In connection with the termination of the merger agreement, PNGI will receive $1.475 billion—a $225-million cash termination fee and the purchase of $1.25 billion of PNGI’s redeemable preferred equity due 2015—by affiliates of Fortress, affiliates of Centerbridge, affiliates of Wachovia, and affiliates of Deutsche Bank.

Based on discussions between PNGI and PNG Acquisition Co., it became apparent to PNGI and its board of directors that the proposed merger transaction would not be completed without significant and lengthy litigation. Further, it also became apparent that a re-negotiated, reduced purchase price was not a viable option, the company said.

PNGI, based in Wyomissing, Pa., determined the likelihood of successfully navigating the remaining regulatory approvals, credit facility conditions for funding, and likely litigation required to complete the task was highly uncertain. Accordingly, PNGI, in consultation with external legal and financial advisers, determined that terminating the agreement under the aforementioned terms brings the most certain value to shareholders given current economic conditions, the state of the capital markets, and the gaming industry outlook.

“We are extremely disappointed that the company’s shareholders will not receive the $67-per-share merger consideration,” PNGI chief executive officer Peter Carlino said in a statement. “Our decision to enter into the agreements (announced July 3) follows a thorough evaluation of a wide range of alternatives for consummating the transaction. The prospect of employing litigation to enforce performance of the merger agreement would inherently expose the company to the significant risk related to a protracted legal process. We may be in the gaming business, but we would never gamble the company’s future and our shareholders’ best interest in this or any other circumstance.

“This transaction represents the company’s best alternative to the uncertainty of litigation and delivers immediate tangible and material value to our stockholders. Importantly, we are confident that we can very effectively deploy this capital to generate significant value for our stockholders based on our well-established track record of delivering long-term growth through a focus on return on investment and disciplined financial and risk management.

“In this regard, we believe the substantial capital infusion will enable Penn National to be aggressively opportunistic at a time when gaming industry valuations appear very attractive. Our ability to structure and integrate accretive, strategic acquisitions has been an important driver of Penn National’s long-term financial growth, and any such future activity would complement our current operations—including our recently opened facilities in Pennsylvania and Maine—and staggered pipeline of announced development projects including those in Indiana and Kansas.

“Finally, we are initiating guidance for 2008 EBITDA of approximately $682 million, and believe that this metric should be considered in conjunction with the considerable economic value of the settlement and our 14-year track record of creating value for shareholders to determine an appropriate value for Penn National Gaming’s assets, operations and growth prospects.”

Among the properties owned and operated by PNGI are Hollywood Casino at Penn National in Pennsylvania and Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia.

Posted 6/20/2008, 7:46 pm

Jockey Marco Ccamaque, arrested June 6 at Presque Isle Downs by the U.S. Border Patrol, was released on bail by a federal immigration judge in York, Pa., on Thursday.

Ccamaque, a 35-year-old native of Lima, Peru, was arrested for "not having the proper working papers," according to Jim Perfetto of the Pennsylvania Racing Commission. Ccamaque hired an immigration attorney, George Crimarco, who said, "It is just a paperwork mix-up. We will get it straightened out quickly."

For the commencement of Presque Isle Downs’ first full meet, running 100 days from May 9 through September 27, the Pennsylvania HBPA has hired Jon Moss as the associate executive director. Jon comes from a racing family and is a graduate of the Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) at the University of Arizona. Tanya Brinegar has been hired as the office secretary.

The contact number for the Presque Isle Downs HBPA office is (814) 860-8990. The fax number is (814) 868-6389.

As of April 1, 2008 through September 30, 2008, testosterone, nandrolone, boldenone, and stanozolol are being monitored by the racing commission, while all other steroid use is still prohibited. Through discussions with Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, a compromise was reached regarding the non-therapeutic use of anabolic steroids. The policy states that when dealing with females or gelded males and intact males, except in regards to testosterone for intact males, horses testing below 200 picograms will be considered clean. Horses testing between 200 and 999 picograms will result in a letter of reprimand. Letter of reprimand horses will be tested in their next start. If a 10% increase in the steroid present is confirmed, the test will result in a second offense.

Intact male horses will be subject to the same protocol regarding testosterone, except the threshold levels will be 1,000 picograms for a negative test, with any test registering 1,000-1,999 resulting in a letter of reprimand.

A rise of 10% of or more in any subsequent test will result in a second offense.

A test resulting in a letter of reprimand will not carry disqualification from purse money, result in a fine for the trainer, or the horse being put on the vet’s list.

Please visit the racing commission website at www.agriculture.state.pa.us for full details of the steroid policy. This policy will be reviewed and possibly changed once the research on steroids being conducted by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) is complete later this year.

We are happy to announce the purchase of a wobbly wheel roller for the racing surface by Penn National. We hope this new piece of equipment will help aid in the improvement of the surface at Penn National and will reduce the amount of injuries and rundowns. Discussions have been held with Penn National regarding the need for an analysis of the racing surface and education on the use of the wobbly wheel roller for the maintenance crew. We are currently awaiting notification from Penn National on this issue.

The Pennsylvania HBPA held its first Groom Elite 101 class. Trainer Board members Stephanie Beattie and Jose Martinez donated considerable personal time into the program and are directly responsible for the successful endeavor. Both trainers had grooms participate in the program, realizing the benefits to their racing operations.

We are expecting a graduating class of 13 grooms for this initial group.

We at the Pennsylvania HBPA would like to express our gratitude and our congratulations to the first group of Elite Groom 101 graduates, and we look forward to offering classes in the future.

The Pennsylvania HBPA will be hosting the National HBPA’s summer convention from July 17 through July 20. The event will be held at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. We encourage all attendees to arrive early to experience Chocolate Town USA.

Posted 6/7/2008, 7:45 pm

Jockey Marco Ccamaque, a 35-year-old native of Lima, Peru, was arrested Friday night by the U.S. Border Patrol at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa. According to Jim Perfetto of the Pennsylvania Racing Commission, Ccamaque was arrested because he had no working papers and was in the country illegally.

“He will be held in the Erie County holding facility and then taken to York for a hearing before an immigration judge,” Perfetto said.

Ccamaque has hired an attorney, George Cramaco, who was unavailable for comment.

Date Posted: 5/28/2008 3:15:46 PM Last Updated: 5/28/2008 3:15:46 PM

A backstretch improvement program has begun at Hollywood Casino at Penn National, which will spend up to $10 million over the next 10 years to build new barns, refurbish old ones, and make other barn-area upgrades.

On May 26, trainer Flint Stites moved his large stable into the first new barn built at the Grantville, Pa., racetrack in more than 30 years. The 46-stall structure, designed and built by Kohler & Kohler of Wrightsville, Pa., also has three indoor equine wash stalls and two attached outdoor storage sheds.

“Site work and layout are almost completed for the next barn, and we hope to begin building the second week of June,” Penn National director of racing Rob Marella said. “It will take two months for construction.”

The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act of 2004 mandates racetracks spend a certain amount of revenue from slot machines on backstretch improvements.

Also new at Penn National is a new equine ambulance manufactured by Gregory Racing Fabrications of Nazareth, Pa. The custom-made vehicle is more than 20 feet long, 10 feet high, and 102 inches wide.

“The new ambulance has a hydraulic system that allows the trailer to be lowered flush to the ground to assist in getting injured horses on to the vehicle,” Marella said. “The hydraulic system also allows for the movement of a padded interior wall to better stabilize an injured horse.”

Four new John Deere tractors and the construction of a manure-holding center and a new manure-collection system are additional projects at Penn National.

On May 30, Penn National will offer the richest program in its history with five $75,000 stakes for Pennsylvania-bred horses and four overnight events, three of them carded for the turf.

Posted: Saturday, May 24, 2008 4:50 PM

The Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association showed their commitment to retiring racehorses by providing funding to help launch the Retirement Assistance and Care for Equines (RACE) Fund.

Based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the fund supports nonprofit rescue farms that receive retired racehorses from Penn National Race Course, paying them a per diem amount to handle the expenses for each one in their care. Also covered in the fund is the cost of euthanasia when necessary, educational programs, and some administrative costs.

“The RACE Fund is so very proud of the Pennsylvania HBPA board of directors and its general membership for stepping up to the plate for the horses at Penn National, and we appreciate their support in helping to launch the program,” said RACE Fund President and co-founder Marlene Murray.

“The RACE Fund Inc. was created for the horses, and no recipient could be more deserving than these gallant creatures that are the essential fiber of the racing industry.”

Murray said the cost to feed a retired Thoroughbred could range between $1,800 and $2,300 per year. The fund will provide up to $5 a day per horse to participating farms.

“We’re hoping that people will choose a more positive alternative like this rather than send them to slaughter,” she said.

Most of the horses supported by the fund will be placed with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. However, some will be placed in smaller rescue farms in Pennsylvania and nearby states.

“This is a positive step in the right direction concerning the welfare of racehorses and providing a safety net for them after their racing careers have ended,” said Pennsylvania HBPA President Joe Santanna. “While many of our owners and trainers already provide private placement to retire their horses, the RACE Fund becomes yet another valuable resource available to honor the effort that our Thoroughbred racehorses make during their competitive career.”

While Santanna declined to disclose details of the Pennsylvania HBPA’s funding, he stressed the importance of the RACE Fund to retired racehorses and said a donation would become a regular part of the organization’s budget.

Date Posted: 5/12/2008 4:35:28 PM Last Updated: 5/13/2008 10:58:45 AM

Presque Isle Downs is the latest track to get caught up in the battle over revenue sharing of online and telephone wagering companies, as signals to many advance deposit wagering companies were cut off May 11 due to lack of agreements with the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

Handle on the May 11 card, not including separate pool wagering, dropped to $194,954 after an opening day handle of $729,219 May 9, according to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club Information Systems. Average daily handle during last September’s inaugural 25-day meet at the Erie-area track was more than $585,000.

Joe Santanna, who is president of the Pennsylvania HBPA, said the horsemen didn’t withhold consent for the ADW signals, but said the group only would grant approval for entities that sign licensing agreements based on the revenue sharing plan being promoted by the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group.

“I am unaware that any have done so,” said Santanna, who is also treasurer of the THG, which includes 18 horsemen’s groups across the nation.

Horsemen using THG as a collective negotiating agent had previously shut down signals to various ADWs for Churchill Downs and Calder Race Course, which are owned by Churchill Downs Inc.; Lone Star Park and Thistledown, which are owned by Magna Entertainment Corp.; and River Downs, which is independently-owned.

The development at Presque Isle Downs was not mentioned during owner MTR Gaming Group’s May 12 conference call discussing first-quarter financial results. The Blood-Horse was electronically cued for a question during the question-and-answer period with analysts, but was not recognized. A later query to MTR Gaming’s corporate office about Presque Isle Downs was referred to director of racing Rose Mary Williams, who did not immediately return the call.

During the conference call, MTR Gaming president and chief executive officer Ted Arneault answered several questions from analysts about Presque Isle Downs and claimed the export handle was doing very well.

“We had a tremendous, tremendous (off-track) wager Friday night,” he said. “And I can tell you from being there, the place was absolutely jammed. Presque Isle is really, really looking good.

“I know that won’t last if we don’t get bigger fields,” he continued, noting small field sizes that averaged 6.5, 6.3 and 5.9 on the May 9-11 cards. “So that’s our primary emphasis. We are just in competition with other tracks that are at their peak right now.”

Companies such as TVG, Youbet, and Premier Turf Club were informed of the signal situation just a couple days prior to May 11 cut-off.

TVG general counsel John Hindman said the company will be communicating its position directly to the Pennsylvania HBPA.

“We view it as problematic for several reasons,” he said without elaborating. “It appears that the horsemen are acting against their own interests, as well as against the interests of the race fan.”

Joe Riddell, a partner in Premier Turf Club, which operates a cash-rewards outlet in North Dakota, agreed the betting customer is being left out of the equation.

“We are sitting here fighting amongst the horsemen and the bricks and mortars while ignoring our customers,” he said. “Why don’t they have an equal say at this table? While we are trying to fight this battle, let’s try to figure out how we do all of that to satisfy the three entities that have to have a stable platform. This platform has to be built on three legs and not on two.”

As is the case with other tracks, the signal exclusion at Presque Isle Downs is not extended to high-volume offshore rebate shops such as Elite Turf Club and Racing & Gaming Services.

“We are attempting to look at this in a segmented fashion,” Santanna said. “This is a substantial undertaking. It has to start somewhere. And it has to end somewhere.”

THG-affiliated groups are pitching a revenue model that asks for a one-third share of takeout realized from ADW wagers. TrackNet Media Group has repeatedly said the proposal is economically infeasible, and Riddell said he in many ways agrees with that assessment.

“I agree with Scott Daruty’s statement that the (THG model) does not fully address the issues, and it needs to be worked out,” he said, noting comments previously made by TrackNet’s president. “I want to see the horsemen succeed. I want to see the racetracks succeed. And I also want to see our customers to be invited back into the process and kept in.”

Santanna said the current revenue model in regards to ADWs needs to be fixed, and that horsemen are willing to be “temporarily inconvenienced for permanent improvement.”

“I still don’t understand how the person selling the product is losing money,” he said, speaking of horsemens' return on investment in breeding, buying, training and owning horses. “(Horsemens’) revenues don’t equal their costs. And the product is at economic peril. If we can narrow the gap between purses earned and the operating expenses involved in owning a horse, we will continue to have folks interested in buying horses and putting on the show.”

The Pennsylvania HBPA, which has about 2,500 members, also negotiates signal agreements with Penn National. Santanna said Penn National already has an agreement in place with horsemen that won’t expire until 2011.

Article published May 9, 2008

To ship or not to ship? That appears to be the question for the horsemen who will either stable their racing stock at Presque Isle Downs & Casino or transport the animals to the newest track in North America.

When Presque Isle Downs officially opened for a 25-day meet on Sept. 1, 2007, six months after the life-giving slot machines were turned on to boost the racing industry in Pennsylvania, the plan was to add on to the 500 original stalls on the grounds.

Today, at the start of the track's initial 100-date meet, there are still 500 stalls.

Presque Isle Downs officials say they have a reason for their apparent stall tactics: The barns are about half-filled, even though there were 1,500 applications for stall space.

"If the company (MTR Gaming) runs out of stalls this year, they will build more for next year," said Richard Knight, chief executive of Presque Isle Downs & Casino. "Last September, the average occupancy of 500 stalls was 54 percent and the maximum capacity at one time 62 percent."

With about $180,000 in purse money nightly, horsemen likely will bring more of their better horses to stable at Presque Isle Downs during the summer. But May is prime time for horse racing in North America, with tracks already open or opening everywhere and small fields in some races prominent at several tracks.

"First, there's a scarcity of horses, and owners and trainers don't want to make a commitment to stable too many horses at one place," veteran trainer Wayne McDonnell said. "People will tend to ship their horses when they can, and this is a good area in proximity to Mountaineer Race Track (in Chester, W. Va.), or Thistledown (in Cleveland), or Finger Lakes in New York. People want to run their horses in places they believe they can make money, and the money is very good here. And, like myself, they love the (Tapeta) racing surface, and their horses seem to come out of a race in better shape than at dirt tracks."

McDonnell said that with the horses spread out around the country, tracks are having problems filling race cards.

"Delaware Park is having a tough time with sometimes four or five horses in a race," McDonell said. "Any bettors (on site or watching simulcasts) will turn the page when they see a race like that, since it's difficult to make money with short fields."

With its hefty purses, Presque Isle Downs does not want just any horse. Knight said that many of the 1,500 stall applications were for horses that never won a race.

"We're not going to build stables for horses that have yet to be tested," Knight said. "For all of the good horses that want to race here, we'll build stalls for them. But you're not going to build a barn to sit there empty, or filling up with horses that aren't the quality you want to be racing on your track."

Commitment to keeping horses at one track assures the horseman of being able to place a horse in races at that track throughout the meet.

Trainer Niall M. O'Callaghan has what he calls, "The best of both worlds," since O'Callaghan owns Skylight Training Center in Goshen, Ky., with his own Pro-Ride synthetic racing surface.

"I don't have to keep my horses stabled on any particular track since they can stay here," said O'Callaghan, who has trained 528 winners in 18 years and who expects to ship some horses to Presque Isle Downs. "You have to be careful if you commit to a particular track, since if you ship too often they are sensitive to that, and can block you from entering horses in the races you want to run them."

This season and the response of the horsemen will dictate the need of more stall space. A strong intent to keep their horses here would fulfill the assurance made last year by Rose Mary Williams, the director of racing at Mountaineer Race Track who oversees all racing for MTR Gaming, that there would 1,000 stalls at Presque Isle Downs this year.

The theory is opposite of the Kevin Costner's line in the baseball movie Field of Dreams: "If they come, we will build it."

O'Callaghan's loyalty to Williams points to the new barns becoming a reality.

"Rose Mary treats the horsemen the right way, and she has always done that with me," O'Callaghan said. "People in horseracing respect the right treatment, and with that, they would tend to stable their horses at those tracks."

Date Posted: 4/29/2008 8:06:41 AM Last Updated: 4/30/2008 2:15:10 PM

A Commonwealth Court in Pennsylvania has granted Jayne Vaders, last year’s leading trainer at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack, a stay of her indefinite license revocation, which was handed down by the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission last May.

Vaders had appealed the commission’s ruling, but lost that appeal April 16. The stay was granted April 25.

Vaders, 51, has had seven positive drug tests since 1995, six of them for Class 3 drugs including acepromazine, which is used as a tranquilizer, and one for a Class 2 violation for fluthenazine, which is also used as a tranquilizer. The Class 2 violation occurred in 2005.

Chris Ryder, a spokesman for the racing commission, said Vaders’ license revocation was upheld because, under current state horse racing regulations, stewards are allowed to revoke a trainer’s license after two or more positive tests.

Alan Pincus, a Las Vegas attorney representing Vaders, said it could be “years” before Vaders’ appeal is heard in Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg.

“My client’s due process was violated from the very beginning,” Pincus said.

He said the commission presented a “ridiculous” set of obstacles and regulations to justify revoking her license.

Pincus said to his knowledge, such a rule has not been enforced in similar situations with other trainers in Pennsylvania. He said the drugs for which Vaders’ horses had tested positive were mostly therapeutic in nature.

“If you tried to enforce that rule, at least 25% of the trainers in Pennsylvania would be immediately thrown out,” Pincus said. “I think there’s some sort of vendetta against (Vaders) within the commission from the actions I’ve seen.”

Vaders currently is third in the Philadelphia Park standings with 33 victories from 163 starters and earnings of $649,246. She worked as trainer John McCaslin’s assistant for nearly 10 years before taking over the operation. She took out a training license in 1994 and saddled her first winner in 1996.

Vaders won the Philadelphia Park training title in 2007 with 117 winners and purse earnings of $1,902,476.

Posted: April 21, 2008

The Pennsylvania HBPA has informed the Director of Racing at Presque Isle Downs that its consent and approval for the sale of the 2008 race meet simulcast signal to any and all Advance Deposit Wagering sites is contingent upon the ADW entering into a license fee agreement with the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group (THG).

The 2008 meet begins May 9, 2008 and while awaiting the receipt of the simulcast sites for consent and approval, the PA HBPA notified Presque Isle Downs of its intention to require the ADW’s to negotiate a license fee agreement with the THG prior to the distribution and sale of the 2008 live racing signal to them.

PA HBPA President Joe Santanna stated that “This should not come as any surprise to the thoroughbred horse racing industry. For almost a year now, the topic of changing the economic model for certain components in the simulcast market has been presented at every public forum where the industry stakeholders have met. The revenue sharing reallocation (equal thirds) is necessary to support the very activity that is the basis on which the ADW business plan is built. The idea that historic percentages remain in place or change slightly is unacceptable. It is incomprehensible to believe that owners should lose money because purses do not support the costs of ownership while those buying the signal, and broadcasting it off-site, report profits on the results of their operation.”

The Presque Isle Downs 2008 race meet expands from the 25 days raced in 2007 to 100 race days from May to September 2008. Todd Mostoller, Executive Director of the PA HBPA reports that “We have a responsibility to our owners and trainers to maximize revenue sources for purses by examining every aspect of the racing operation. It is abundantly clear that the revenue sharing arrangement in the simulcast market needs adjusted. The PA HBPA Board of Directors has resolved to direct its attention to the current disproportionate ADW pricing model. While change is often difficult to accept, this is change that is absolutely necessary if live racing is to continue to provide the product that others in this industry use as their principal revenue producing activity.”

The PA HBPA joined the THG in December 2007.

Posted: Mar 22, 2008

David Frizzell, of Pendleton, Ind., has been named the official racing secretary for this season's thoroughbred horse racing meet at Presque Isle Downs & Casino.

Frizzell joins Presque Isle Downs from Indiana Downs. He has an extensive racing background from racetracks across the Midwest.

A racing secretary oversees the racing office, among other duties.

Frizzell will prepare for 100 days of racing that begin May 9 and end Sept. 27, with post times at 5:30 p.m.

"His enthusiasm and passion for the racing industry will help continue to bring success to our racing program during our first full live racing meet," Richard Knight, chief executive of Presque Isle Downs, said.

Presque Isle Downs held a one-month meet in September.

The track also announced that stall applications are now available online at www.presqueisledowns.com, and are due Tuesday.

Eligibility requirements for insurance coverage established in the Gaming Act have been approved by the Pennsylvania HBPA Board of Directors. All trainers with a minimum of 20 starts at Penn National, with at least 50% of total starts in North America occurring at Penn National, will be eligible for health insurance coverage. Additionally, trainers who made 150 starts or more at Penn National will be eligible regardless of the number of starts made elsewhere.

The plan coverage details must be approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PAGCB). By the time you read this, we anticipate approval will have been granted at the February meeting of the PAGCB.

Following approval, plan enrollment meetings will occur in March, with an anticipated coverage date of May 1, 2008. A postcard mailing will be sent to all eligible members with notification of date, time, and location of enrollment meetings. Please be on the lookout for the postcard, as meeting attendance will be essential to ensure timely coverage.

The newly built Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course opened for business on February 12. The facility is a state-of-the-art racing and gaming facility, with 2,020 slots in operation. Initial reaction from patrons and media has been extremely positive.

Transitioning to the new facility necessitated a seven-week racing hiatus. Racing resumed on February 14 in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.

The Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission has changed its policy regarding the horsemen’s ability to obtain quantification levels in split samples for medication violations. We fought diligently for the past several years for this change in policy, and our perseverance and efforts have finally been rewarded. We are hopeful this change will lead to a “common sense” approach to establishing threshold levels for all therapeutic medications and potential environmental contaminants.

Date Posted: 3/5/2008 10:16:19 AM Last Updated: 3/5/2008 11:53:08 AM

Nearly all of the more than 2,000 samples tested for anabolic steroids in Pennsylvania racehorses during a two-month period came back negative, state officials said March 4.

A model rule for regulation of steroids in Pennsylvania will be enforced beginning April 1. The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission and Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission last year announced the start-up date to provide time for steroids to clear from horses’ systems.

According to a release from the office of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, the two racing commissions collected 2,061 samples during the two-month period that ended Feb. 22. Results showed 98.8% of the samples were negative, officials said.

“Pennsylvania’s horse and harness racing industries are the backbone of our state’s $1.5-billion equine industry,” Rendell said in a statement. “We are the first state in the region to begin testing for anabolic steroids in racehorses, and we are setting a national standard by ensuring that our racehorses are clean of steroids and any other performance-enhancing substances.”

Rendell recognized PHRC chairman Rick Abbott, a Thoroughbred breeder and owner, and his harness racing counterpart, Roy Wilt, for addressing regulation of steroids. It is expected most if not all racing jurisdictions in the United States will be regulating steroids in racehorses by the end of this year.

Abbott said March 5 the advance notice of regulation worked. Two years ago, 400 Thoroughbreds and 400 Standardbreds were "blind" tested, and 60% of the tests showed at least one steroid in their systems. This year, the results were quite different.

"I think the numbers tell the story," Abbott said. "It's clear the horsemen took us seriously."

Abbott said any calls for delays in regulation by horsemen's groups don't make sense to him when "98% of their constituents are already going along with it" as evidenced by the test results.

The samples were taken from horses at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack, Hollywood Casino at Penn National, and The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, a harness facility. Philly Park and The Meadows offered live racing during the two-month testing period, while Penn National opened Feb. 14. A majority of the 25 positives came from Philly Park samples.

Pennsylvania officials said they would perform more tests in March for informational purposes only. By July 1, any confirmed positive test will result in loss of purse, a $2,500 fine, and a 45-day suspension.

Penalties for the second violation will be the loss of purse, a $5,000 fine, and a 90-day suspension. A third violation would result in a revocation of an individual’s racing license.

Pennsylvania is the first state to base its testing program on blood plasma samples rather than urine samples, which allows for more precise and accurate detection of the steroids. Horsemen’s groups in the U.S. have said steroids should be tested in blood, not urine, because urine tests can be inaccurate.

Testing in Pennsylvania is conducted at the state Department of Agriculture’s Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory in West Chester.

Indiana will implement regulations on steroids April 1 as well. Other states are expected to come online through the spring, summer, and fall.

Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 5:59 PM

Pennsylvania slot machine revenue has exceeded expectations according to Wall Street analysts, who cautioned racino operators to expect a moderation in business when two Philadelphia-area casinos open in 2009.

The appetite for slot machine gaming in the Pennsylvania remains high. The state has 11,500 slots currently in operation—25% of the maximum 45,600 allowed under Act 71 of state law—which garnered an average daily profit of $307 per machine throughout the state, according to Adam Steinberg, a director at Morgan Joseph Investment Banking.

David Katz of Oppenheimer and Co., speaking Tuesday at the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress along with analysts Marc Falcone of Magnetar Capital and Steinberg, said a daily profit of between $175 and $225 per machine is more realistic moving forward.

Steinberg predicted Philadelphia Park in Bensalem and Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack in Chester will feel the financial impact when stand-alone casinos open in Philadelphia.

“Philadelphia Park will continue to do well during the week, but the city casinos will offer more amenities, such as restaurants and entertainment, to a broader audience,” he said.

Falcone said the stand-alone city casino operators will enjoy advantages such as location, strong population density, and quality of facilities, things that a temporary racino operation lacks.

The trio of analysts noted Pennsylvania ranked third, behind New York and Connecticut, in slot-machine revenue in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions last year with $1.08-billion.

“None of these Pennsylvania facilities are operating at capacity, so they can further increase their assets,” Falcone said. “The numbers for the first two weeks at Hollywood Casino at Penn National were quite good.”

Falcone said the current slump in the economy and possible financing problems for racinos under construction could serve to dampen enthusiasm during the next two years.

“Financing is still difficult,” Falcone said. “It will take five years to get a real feel for where Pennsylvania gaming is heading.”

“When a new property opens, a euphoria occurs,” Katz said. “The racinos can add slot machine supply, maybe not now, but in a few years.”

John Finamore, senior vice president of regional operations for Penn National Gaming, said the recently opened Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course already is operating at capacity on Saturday nights.

”I’d beg to differ with the analysts, because there are people who are frustrated that they can’t sample what we have to offer on the weekend,” Finamore said. “I don’t want to be overly euphoric after two weeks, but our win per unit is over $300, and we’re very pleased with the public’s response.”

The Grantville, Pennsylvania racing and gaming facility opened with 2,000 machines in operation, but is designed to handle an additional 1,000 units.

Edson “Ted” Arneault, chairman, president and chief executive officer of MTR Gaming, Inc. said one-year-old Presque Isle Downs and its 2,000 machines have drawn the majority of its customer base from the Buffalo, New York and Cleveland, Ohio in addition to the local Erie Area.

“We generated $141-million in gaming revenues, which is about $231 per machine, per day,” Arneault said.

Steinberg said he does not expect table-game legislation to be introduced until each of the 14 casinos in the state are operational.

“The tax rate of 56% makes table games non-profitable,” he said.

Several racinos, including the state’s three Thoroughbred tracks, offer virtual-table-game machines.

Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack in Chester, West Virginia, owned by MTR Gaming, began offering live table games in January after voters approved a referendum last year.

Charles Town Races in Charles Town, West Virginia, owned by Penn National Gaming, did not receive voter approval on a similar measure and must wait until 2009 to try again.

Steinberg said he feels video-lottery terminals at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey will eventually become a reality, affecting business at the Philadelphia- and Pocono-area casinos.

Article published Feb 13, 2008

It's awards season, right?

So the winner of the best "racino" for 2007 is ... Presque Isle Downs & Casino.

The Thoroughbred Times, the weekly magazine dedicated to the thoroughbred racing industry, bestowed the honor on the Erie casino and track even though the track's meet only lasted one month, in September.

"Racino" is the industry term for a casino with a horse racing track.

Ed DeRosa, news editor of the Thoroughbred Times, said the Erie track got the recognition based on reader responses and staff picks. DeRosa said he visited the track during its opening weekend.

The large slots-fueled purses, which attracted quality horses and top-name trainers and jockeys, were a big reason that Presque Isle Downs was recognized, he said.

"They put up that kind of money, and the horsemen responded," he said.

Horses that performed well at Presque Isle Downs in September also did well in subsequent months at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington and at Churchill Downs in Louisville in October and November respectively, he said.

Presque Isle Downs also got high marks for cleanliness and a facility size that seems to fit the market, said DeRosa, who's originally from Cleveland.

Richard Knight, Presque Isle Downs' chief executive, said the company is proud of the honor. But he was surprised at the early recognition because "we're so new to the scene."

Knight said it would be tough to top that honor again this year, "but it also gives us a challenge at the same time, too."

The racing season opens May 9.

Date Posted: 2/12/2008 2:35:56 PM Last Updated: 2/12/2008 2:35:56 PM

Hollywood Casino at Penn National opened on time Feb. 12 with bells and whistles--and with a rousing alarm and taped recording telling everyone to vacate the building.

At about 10 a.m. EST, an emergency alarm went off and remained on for a few minutes. As it turned out, the alarm was supposed to be tested about a half-hour before the new facility opened its doors to the public.

“You couldn’t have planned it any better,” Hollywood Casino marketing director Fred Lipkin said with a laugh.

The brief stir did nothing to impede opening day, but the weather forced cancellation of the first night of live Thoroughbred racing in the integrated racing and gaming facility. Officials canceled the Feb. 12 card the day before because of the weather forecast and a large number of shippers entered on the program.

Weather conditions were expected to improve Feb. 13, and officials were hopeful racing could get under way for the first time since Dec. 21, 2007.

The interior of the casino, which has only slot machines, is Hollywood-themed and has the “wow” factor, according to those on hand for the opener. It more resembles a Las Vegas casino than a racetrack retrofitted with slots.

Penn National Gaming Inc., headed by chairman Peter Carlino, opted to demolish the old racetrack, which opened in 1972, and build a new facility.

“I’m really pleased Peter Carlino took the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission seriously when it said it wanted an integrated facility,” said Melinda Tucker, director of racetrack gaming for the PGCB. “I’m cautiously optimistic it will be a benefit to the racing industry. I think it will do surprisingly well.”

After a few hours, the crowd began to pick up inside the casino. On the second level, horseplayers began to filter in at about noon before the first simulcast race. The only glitch on the racing side was there were no harness simulcast programs when the day’s simulcasts began.

Penn National and its off-track betting outlets sell products called Daily Racing Program and Daily Harness Program, both of which are printed by Daily Racing Form and sold in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. The Thoroughbred simulcast program was available.

On the third level, horsemen inspected the box-seating area and full-service restaurant that overlooks the track.

More than $3.74 million passed through the slot machines during two test nights Feb. 8 and Feb. 10. Gross gaming revenue topped $317,000, with local charities the major beneficiary.

Posted: Thursday, February 07, 2008 12:04 PM

After paying an unanticipated $2.5-million pre-opening charge for the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Penn National Gaming Inc. reports fourth quarter net income figures short of its October forecast.

At $585.8-million for the final quarter of 2007, net revenues fell nearly $10-million short of the projected $595.4-million. The corporation registered $32.2-million in net income, which failed to reach the $35.9-million projection.

Penn National Chairman Peter Carlino said the corporation had not anticipated the $2.5-million start-up fee to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, which is scheduled to open on February 12.

While that oversight contributed to the company falling short of guidance, Carlino said decreased business at its Biloxi, Mississippi, casino and bad weather at five of its largest properties were also factors.

“Our fourth quarter performance was relatively strong considering the impact of weather in December at our five largest properties,” Carlino said. “In total, these facilities had 29 property days impacted by snow in the 2007 fourth quarter, versus three in the same period in 2006.”

While net revenue for the year was down from $327.1-million in 2006 to $160.1-million in ’07, those figures included a $225-milllion insurance settlement for Hurricane Katrina-related losses at its Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis and Boomtown Biloxi facilities. When that settlement is subtracted from ‘06 figures, net revenue was up 56.8%.

Carlino believes the casino opening at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania, 13 miles from state capital Harrisburg, will boost ’08 revenue.

“After years of planning and development, the soft opening of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course is scheduled for February 12 with an official grand opening party planned for March 1,” Carlino said. “True to our word, we invested heavily in reinventing and refurbishing our namesake property and, in addition to the $50-million license fee, we invested $260-million in this state-of-the-art integrated racing and gaming facility.

“On the site that once housed the four-story grandstand, we’ve created a spectacular casino and five-story racing facility that we believe will quickly emerge as one of central Pennsylvania’s signature attractions, featuring entertainment and exciting live racing.”

In December, Penn National shareholders approved a merger agreement with Fortress Investment Group and Centerbridge Partners. The merger is expected to be completed before June 15.

Date Posted: 1/7/2008 12:37:11 PM Last Updated: 1/7/2008 2:50:44 PM

It will be a new day for Thoroughbred racing in central Pennsylvania Feb. 12 when Penn National Race Course, rebuilt as a racing and gaming complex, reopens for live racing as the Hollywood Casino at Penn National.

The old grandstand/clubhouse, which opened in 1972, was razed in 2006 to make way for slot machines. For more than a year, pari-mutuel operations have been in housed in a temporary facility without a view of the racetrack, but that’s about to change.

The exterior of the facility is done, the slots are in place, and the first condition book lists record purses for Penn National. The opener was scheduled for Feb. 5 but pushed back a week to ensure the interior of the facility is ready.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done, but it’s coming into focus,” said Chris McErlean, vice president of racing for track owner Penn National Gaming Inc. “It’s going to be a big change from what people are used to.”

Penn National is scheduled to race 204 days in 2008 under an agreement with the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. When the 2007 meet ended Dec. 21, purses averaged about $90,000 a night; when the track opens they will average about $110,000. Last September, purses averaged about $55,000.

McErlean said live racing would be held either four or five days a week depending on the time of year on a Tuesday-through-Saturday or Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule with first post at 6:45 p.m. The track dropped weekend racing to focus on export of its signal on weeknights after the old facility was demolished.

“There are trade-offs to racing Saturday nights,” McErlean said. “It’s a more competitive simulcast market, but we feel we have a market on track, and we’ll have a new dining room (overlooking the track). There are some advantages to being open on a Saturday night; it will be an experiment.”

Penn National has 25 barns. Under the deal with the Pennsylvania HBPA, 19 will be replaced and six refurbished, said Todd Mostoller, executive director of the horsemen’s group. About $10 million will be spent over 10 years on backstretch improvements; the state's gaming law, passed in 2004, mandates such work.

“Once demand is needed for additional barns, we’re hopeful Penn National will see the need to build them,” Mostoller said of the expected interest from trainers that may want to relocate to Penn National. “I think a lot of farms (in the area) may end up opening training centers.”

Mostoller said horsemen “negotiated an advance on purses” that will be paid back to PNGI when revenue from slots is generated. For the first time ever at Penn National, the purse for a maiden special weight event will top $20,000, and high-priced claiming races with pots in excess of $25,000 are in the first condition book.

McErlean said he expects purses, projected to increase once slots revenue is realized, will lure new faces to Penn National. The track has a turf course, which is another advantage.

“We’re getting a lot of Midwest guys expressing interest, like those from Ohio,” McErlean said. “I think more people will look at Penn as an option. You can ship to eight other tracks in three to four hours.

“The first year will be a transition year; we’ll be revising some eligibility standards and phasing out of the lower classes. Guys will definitely have to upgrade their stock and restock. We’ll have a better sense of that in 2009.”

Date Posted: 11/27/2007 11:24:27 AM Last Updated: 11/27/2007 3:13:59 PM

Real Quiet, who is the midst of his best year yet as a stallion, will relocate to Penn Ridge Farm, a new operation near Middletown, Pa. A 12-year-old champion and dual classic winner, Real Quiet stood at Dr. William Solomon's Pin Oak Lane Farm near New Freedom, Pa. His 2008 fee, $10,000, is double his 2007 fee. Special consideration will be given to Pennsylvania foaling mares.

Real Quiet is the first stallion for Penn Ridge, owned by Mike Jester and Joe Besecker, both of whom are syndicate members in the son of Quiet American. Jester, who is the syndicate manager, is supervising the construction of a four-stall stallion barn and a broodmare barn on the 115-acre property. Jester bought four mares at the recent Keeneland November breeding stock sale to breed to Real Quiet.

This year, Real Quiet is represented by a pair of grade I winners as well as the earners of $4.2 million. Midnight Lute, one of the favorites for champion sprinter, captured the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) and Forego Stakes (gr. I). He ran second in the Nov. 24 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I). Pussycat Doll, a grade I winner the past two years, won the Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I).

Real Quiet also is the sire of additional 2007 graded stakes winner Silent Pleasure and earlier grade I winner Wonder Lady Anne L. His career progeny earnings are $12.3 million.

Real Quiet, who is out of the Believe It mare Really Blue, was voted champion 3-year-old male of 1998 after winning the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I). He was beaten a nose in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Date Posted: 11/28/2007 2:46:52 PM Last Updated: 11/28/2007 4:46:55 PM

Use of anabolic and androgenic steroids in Thoroughbreds will be prohibited effective April 1, 2008, the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission announced Nov. 28.

The commission will step up testing for steroids as part of the directive. Officials are telling trainers and veterinarians to discontinue administration of steroids by Dec. 1 to allow for elimination of them from a horse’s system prior to the ban taking effect next year.

Horses racing at the following tracks are affected: Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack, and Presque Isle Downs.

Earlier this fall, Alan Foreman, chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, said he believed race-day bans on anabolic steroids will be in place in many states in the Mid-Atlantic region by April 1, 2008. Virginia already has a ban, and New York is taking comments on proposed steroids regulations.

Many issues remain, including cost of testing, timing, implementation, and the fact two states (Delaware and Pennsylvania) have separate racing commissions for Thoroughbred and harness racing.

The Pennsylvania commission noted that an “acceptable plasma concentration” of two naturally occurring steroids--nandrolone and testosterone--has been established for intact male horses.

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium is attempting to get all racing jurisdictions to adopt model rules for regulation of steroids on race day.

The annual Pennsylvania HBPA Christmas Party will be held on December 10 at the Holiday Inn Grantville. The doors open at 6:00 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:45 p.m. Tickets for the annual event will be $10 and must be purchased in the HBPA office at Penn National.

The Pennsylvania HBPA’s annual children’s Christmas party will be held on Saturday, December 15 at 2:00 p.m. in the track kitchen. Please register your child in the Pennsylvania HBPA office prior to December 12 so that Santa may prepare gift bags for the children.

Racing at Penn National will conclude for the year 2007 on December 21. Between December 22 and February 4, there will be no racing to accommodate the move from the Paddock Club to the newly constructed Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

Racing at Penn National for 2008 will commence on February 5 and continue through the end of the calendar year. The missed racing days will be made up throughout the remainder of 2008, for a total of 204 racing days in the calendar year 2008.

Presque Isle Downs will commence racing the Friday following Kentucky Derby Day and conclude the 100-day race meet in September. The Presque Isle racing surface will open for training 15 days prior to the first day of the meet.

Effective January 1, 2008, Amicar will no longer be permitted in pre-racing treatment of horses. Through research conduced at the New Bolton Center, the Pennsylvania State Horseracing Commission (PASHRC) has banned the use of Amicar due to a lack of scientific proof of the drug’s efficacy in the treatment of bleeders. Due to additional research conducted by New Bolton Center on Clenbuterol, the PASHRC has decreased withdrawal times for Clenbuterol, effective January 1, 2008. The recommended withdrawal time will be 24 hours rather than the previous recommendation of 72 hours.

The Mid-Altantic Racing Commissioners have met to discuss the use of anabolic steroids. As of this writing, there have been no formal policies adopted regarding the use of anabolic steroids. However, a ban on their use is anticipated in the 2008 calendar year.

The Pennsylvania HBPA trainer representatives of the Board of Directors have met with Penn National management to discuss the proposed layout of 19 barns which are to be constructed under the terms of the signed Backside Improvement Agreement. A number of recommendations were made, and an additional meeting will occur prior to formal approval of final plans, which will be submitted to the Pennsylvania State Horseracing Commission.

The Pennsylvania HBPA Condition Book Committee and Penn National Race Course have agreed to the following change in eligibility:

The following horses will not be eligible to race at Penn National beginning June 1, 2008:

1. Horses which have not 1. finished 1st, 2nd or 3rd for $3,500 or more since starting for less than $3,500.

2. Horses which have not finished 1st 2nd or 3rd in their last nine starts since starting for $4,000 or less and not finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

3. Maidens which have not finished 2nd, 3rd, or 4th for $ 5,000 or more in their last nine starts since starting for $5,000 or less.

4. Maidens older than six (6) years old.

Starter and optional claiming races will be considered claiming races in determining eligibility under any of the above rules. Horses that race elsewhere must satisfy the above eligibility requirements before being permitted to stable or race at Penn National.

Posted: 10/2/2007

Statistics: Presque Isle Downs conducted a 25-day meeting, extending from September 1 through September 29 . . . Total attendance was 71,272, for a daily average of 2,851 . . . Total on-track wagering was $1,456,424, for a daily average of $58,257 . . . Total off-site wagering was $13,185,584, for a daily average of $527,423 . . . Total wagering from all sources (on-track and off-site combined) was $14,642,008, for a daily average of $585,680 . . . Total purse distribution was $10,801,840, for a daily average of $432,074 . . . A total of 200 races were run (eight per card) . . .Twelve stakes were run, for an aggregate purse distribution of exactly $1.6 million . . . A total of 188 overnight races were run for an aggregate purse distribution of $9,201,840, and a daily average of $368,074 . . . The average number of horses per race was 8.79 . . . Post-time favorites won 25.5% of the races . . . The average return on a two-dollar win wager was $15.96 . . . The average return on a two-dollar exacta wager was $126.65 . . . The winning margin was a half-length or less (thus constituting a photo finish) in 35% of the races.

Meet leaders: Miguel Mena easily led all jockeys in wins, with 35, and purse earnings, with $1,598,275 . . . Corey Lanerie ranked second among jockeys in both categories, with 18 wins and $1,053,230 in purse earnings, respectively . . . Thomas M. Amoss led the trainer standings in wins, with 12, and Steven Asmussen was second, with 10. However, Asmussen led all trainers in purse earnings, with $847,975, while Amoss was second, with $727,290 . . . Loren G. Cox led owners in wins, with 7, while Maggie Moss was second, with 5. But Moss led owners in purse earnings, with $373,840, while Roll Reroll Stables Inc. came in second, with $249,180 . . . Catonight, a four-year-old gelding trained by Clovis Crane, had three wins from three starts at the meet – he was the only horse to register a triple.

Posted 9/27/2007, 4:17 pm

ERIE, Pa. - The two $100,000 stakes on the final day of the Presque Isle Downs meet Saturday are a microcosm of the 25-day season, as horses that have raced at a number of different tracks will come together in both the Fitz Dixon Memorial Juvenile and The HBPA Stakes.

The Fitz Dixon is for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs and has attracted a field of nine. The HBPA, for fillies and mares at a mile and 70 yards, has 11 entrants, only three of whom have raced over the local Tapeta surface.

Plaid, trained by Steve Asmussen, is a top contender in the HBPA. She has won two stakes this year, the Pippin at Oaklawn Park in February, and the Wild Rose at Prairie Meadows in June. In her three most recent starts, Plaid finished second in the Iowa Distaff Breeders Cup on June 30, fourth in the Go for Wand at Saratoga on July 28, and second in the Matron Handicap at Evangeline on Sept. 1. Her come-from-behind style, along with leading jockey Miguel Mena, should serve her well in a race that sports plenty of early speed.

Unplugged, winner of the Claiming Crown Tiara at Ellis Park in her last out, will be one of the early pacesetters under Scott Spieth. Unplugged, who has been claimed five times this year, has won 6 of 13 races and over $166,000 this year. Unplugged is trained by Paul McClelland.

Rasta Farian comes into the HBPA off a third-place finish in the Navajo Princess at the Meadowlands on Sept. 8. All four of her races this year have been on turf. Trained by Mike Matz, Rasta Farian will be ridden by Corey Lanerie.

Victory Pool has the benefit of a race over the track, having won an $84,000 allowance at a mile by nearly two lengths Sept. 16. Trained by Ben Perkins Jr., she ran third in a pair of stakes at Monmouth Park this summer, the Miss Liberty and the Lady's Secret.

Sok Sok, Little Nick meet again

Sok Sok will try to turn the tables on Little Nick in the Fitz Dixon Memorial. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Sok Sok won at first asking at Churchill Downs in mid-June. Asmussen then sent him to Saratoga, where he finished fourth in the Grade 2 Sanford, beaten four lengths.

Sok Sok next ran here Sept. 7 in an entry-level allowance and was sent off as the 3-5 favorite. Sok Sok stalked the early pace in that race, rallied into the stretch to get within a length of Little Nick, but was unable to finish the job. Little Nick's final margin of victory was 2 1/2 lengths and Sok Sok earned a 74 Beyer Speed Figure. With another local work under his belt, Sok Sok may be ready to post a Beyer similar to his first two races, when he earned an 85 at Churchill and an 89 at Saratoga. Sok Sok will be ridden for the first time by Mena.

Little Nick, trained by Dale Romans, won his debut May 7 at Churchill and then had troubled trips in the Grade 2 Sanford and the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, getting bumped in both events. He went to the lead in his start here Sept. 7 and never looked back, winning the six-furlong event in 1:10.30 and earning a Beyer of 80. Little Nick is one of only two horses in the field to have won twice. Little Nick will be ridden for the first time by Dale Beckner, who is tied for third in the standings.

High Appeal is the other member of the field with two wins. Trainer Michael Trombetta has run High Appeal on the turf in all three of his starts.

He won his maiden at Colonial on June 17 by 7 3/4 lengths, then returned to win the Chenery at that track on July 29 by six lengths.

In his most recent start, High Appeal finished sixth, beaten 6 1/2 lengths, in the With Anticipation going 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 31. High Appeal signaled his readiness for this race with a bullet work at Laurel Sept. 2. He will be ridden by Julian Pimentel.

Date Posted: 9/25/2007 8:12:08 AM Last Updated: 9/25/2007 9:30:03 AM

Fifty-seven horses, including a host of stakes winners, have been nominated to a pair of stakes that will anchor the Sept. 29 closing-night card of the inaugural racing season at Presque Isle Downs.

The final program of the 25-night meet will feature the $100,000 HBPA Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile and 70 yards, and the $100,000 Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds at six furlongs.

“This is a really good way for us to close out the meet, with two black-type races for horses from prominent stables,” said Joe Narcavish, racing secretary at Presque Isle. “Both stakes will likely generate aggressive wagering. I see them as having very competitive fields.”

The HBPA Stakes has lured 30 nominees, one of whom is the 4-year-old filly Hystericalady, a four-length winner of the grade 1 Humana Distaff Handicap at Churchill Downs May 5. Hysterical Lady is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who for the past two decades has dominated the trainer standings at Northern California tracks.

Cryptoquip, victorious in the grade 3 Arlington Park Oaks in 2006, is another HBPA nominee. The 4-year-old Ohio-bred filly is trained by H. Graham Motion, who won the $175,000 Presque Isle Mile Sept. 15 with Independent George.

Baghdaria, a four-length winner of the Indiana Oaks (gr. III) at Hoosier Park last year, is also a potential participant. The 4-year-old filly is trained by Tom Amoss, who sent out Indian Chant to win the Karl Boyes Memorial Northwestern Pa. Stakes Sept. 15 and who led all Presque Isle conditioners through Sept. 22 with nine victories.

The HBPA nomination list includes the 5-year-old mare Dina, who comes from the barn of New York-based trainer James A. Jerkens; and Maggie Slew, a 4-year-old filly trained by Kentucky-based Patrick B. Byrne. Both runners are graded stakes-placed.

Stakes winners Bavarian Belle, Casey’s Jet, Eyes On Eddy, Peak Maria’s Way, Plaid, Tens Holy Spirit, Tufted, Unplugged, Victory Pool and Water Gap are on the list of nominees as well.

The Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial, which might serve as a prep for one or two Breeders’ Cup Juvenile participants, has lured 27 nominees. Among them is the Mike Trombetta-trained High Appeal, a six-length winner of the Chenery Stakes on the grass at Colonial Downs in Virginia July 29.

Yonegwa, a two-length winner of the James C. Ellis Juvenile Stakes at Ellis Park Aug. 18, is another Fitz Dixon nominee. Trained by Michael Maker, the colt was ridden to victory in the Ellis Park stakes by Miguel Mena, who led the Presque Isle jockey standings with 24 wins through Sept. 22.

Possetothemax, a 2 ¼-length winner of the Prairie Meadows Gold Juvenile Stakes July 2, is on the list of nominees. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Possetothemax has placed in stakes at Lone Star Park in Texas and Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino in Louisiana, and has not finished worse than third in any of his five career starts.

Date Posted: 9/18/2007 11:46:16 AM Last Updated: 9/18/2007 1:28:26 PM

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission has embarked on a study to determine whether synthetic-surface racing has an impact on horses’ bronchial systems.

Though synthetic surfaces have been in use for racing in the United States for about two years, the Pennsylvania study is believed to be the first performed by a state regulatory agency, or at least the first to be made public. It involves horses at Penn National Race Course, which has a dirt surface, and Presque Isle Downs, the first racetrack to install a Tapeta Footings surface.

Dr. Jerry Pack, chief veterinarian for the PHRC, said Sept. 15 bronchial tests are being performed on 20 Penn National-based horses, 10 of which shipped to Presque Isle, the new track near Erie, Pa. Tests will be done to see how dirt and the synthetic surface--primarily sand and fibers--impact horses’ breathing.

The commission also plans to run tests using a breathing apparatus on horses and study air quality in barns at the tracks.

“There are a lot of firsts happening here,” PHRC executive director Ben Nolt said. “To have this Tapeta surface here is a neat opportunity. As executive director, I’ve yet to have one call about anything negative (with the surface), but we do want to check the horses’ lungs just to see.”

Pack said the surface, which debuted for racing Sept. 1, has been “very forgiving” to horses. “The horses are coming back good, and they look great coming back,” he said.

Still, officials want to play it safe when it comes to horses’ lungs.

“If the surface reduces breakdowns, that’s tremendous, but if we expose the whole horse population to potential lung problems, that’s not,” Pack said. “So far, vets have scoped horses and found nothing, so we’re hoping for the best.”

Results of the study could be available in 30-45 days, Pack said.

Tapeta was invented by trainer Michael Dickinson, who was on hand at Presque Isle Sept. 15 for the track’s inaugural $400,000 Presque Isle Masters Stakes. Dickinson earlier in the day produced a report from 2006 on exposure of horses and riders to “respirable” fibers, respirable dust, total dust, and free silica at Dickinson’s Tapeta Farm in Maryland.

The report, conducted by Atlantic Environmental Inc. on behalf of Dickinson, showed no “potentially harmful exposures” on Tapeta, while respirable dust samples taken on an unidentified dirt track in the Mid-Atlantic region did “indicate a risk” of respirable dust exposure to horses and riders.

Dickinson said he’s pleased with the Presque Isle surface thus far. After morning workouts Sept. 15, he walked the surface and pointed to distinct hoof prints--right down to the “frog”--that went about an inch deep.

“We like horses’ front feet to go in an inch but no more than two inches,” he said. “If they’re not going in an inch, it’s too hard. We need the front-end to be forgiving, but it’s even more important to cater to the rear end. There is more pressure exerted on the hind end--a horse has to have stability.”

When asked about undocumented reports that horses racing on synthetic surfaces are having more hind-end injuries, Dickinson said: “The tensile strength of the fibers used in Tapeta was specifically designed and selected for stability for a horse’s hind end.”

Through 12 nights of racing at Presque Isle, there was one catastrophic breakdown; several other horses were pulled up with various injuries. No riders were hurt.

Veterinarians and officials at other tracks with synthetic surfaces noted some breakdowns could be the result of trainers racing horses in the hope the surfaces alleviate soreness. Dickinson acknowledged that could be an issue.

“We have to be careful we don’t become a magnet for every sore horse on the East Coast,” he said. “There might be an instance where a horse had four or five tough races and understandably became sore racing on dirt. As a result, an obvious temptation is for the trainer to say to himself, ‘We can’t get another dirt race out of him, but we can we get another race out of him on a synthetic surface?’

“We’ve seen that. Horses have arrived sore, and trainers have remarked that after two weeks, the horses are moving much better. However, certain injuries can only be cured by surgery or rest.”

Most trainers who typically race their horses on dirt told The Blood-Horse they like the Tapeta surface. The results are typical of any racetrack: One trainer said his horses “glide” over the surface, and he plans to bring a larger string to Presque Isle next year; another trainer said he still prefers dirt racing to synthetic-surface racing.

Jockey Corey Lanerie, who is based at Presque Isle, said he had some trouble adjusting at first but believes “it’s about getting the right horse.” On Sept. 15, Lanerie rode Indian Chant to victory in the $175,000 Karl Boyes Memorial Northwestern Pa. Stakes for owner Maggi Moss and trainer Tom Amoss.

“It’s a fair surface,” Lanerie said. “It seems like the rail has been dead, but I can’t really feel that. I love the benefits of it.”

The results of the Sept. 15 stakes indicated horses with a race or workouts on Tapeta have an edge. Indian Chant and Santana Strings, first and second in Boyes Memorial, had finished one-two in a Sept. 1 Presque Isle allowance race. In the $175,000 Presque Isle Mile, Independent George and Bestowed finished first and second, respectively; both train on Tapeta in Maryland.

Miss Macy Sue, winner of the Masters Stakes, made her Tapeta debut but had worked very well on Polytrack at Arlington Park. The second-place finisher, Wild Gams, had two works at Presque Isle.

We are excited to announce the inaugural race meet at Presque Isle Downs will begin on Saturday, September 1. With an anticipated average daily overnight purse structure of $505,000, we look forward to an outstanding month of racing with a number of the top owners, trainers, and jockeys in North American racing.

If you need to contact the Pennsylvania HBPA office at Presque Isle Downs, please do so at (814) 860-8990, fax (814) 868-6389.

We are pleased to announce the Pennsylvania HBPA has reached an agreement with Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (HCPN) on stable area improvements. As an integral part of this agreement, HCPN will reinstate the purse advancement, enabling the condition book to reflect the previously advertised targeted daily purse schedule of $75,000 per day. This reinstatement was initiated with the Friday, August 10 racing card.

Purses for the racing cards which took place between and including the dates of August 1 through August 9 will be supplemented by the Pennsylvania HBPA. The procedure to receive purse dollars earned during the stated period will be as follows:

• All owners must complete a W-9 and submit to the Pennsylvania HBPA.

• A completed check request form must be submitted. Completed forms may be faxed to the office at (717) 469-7714. Check request forms may be obtained in the HBPA office.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Pennsylvania HBPA office at (717) 469-2970.

The Pennsylvania HBPA Board of Directors greatly appreciates your patience and understanding in this matter.

The Pennsylvania HBPA announces inactive accounts in the horsemen’s bookkeeping account at Penn National. In accordance with the live racing agreement, Penn National furnished a list of accounts which have been inactive for a period of four (4) years. The names on those inactive accounts are set forth below.

Holders of inactive accounts should contact the Pennsylvania HBPA at: P. O. Box 88, Grantville, PA 17028, Telephone – (717) 469-2970, Fax – (717) 469-7714.

All inactive accounts which remain unclaimed one (1) year after the date of this publication will be paid to the Pennsylvania HBPA’s Benevolent Fund.

The account names are: Bensalem Farm; George Phillips, Jr.; Ludwig Lamm; Stan Stefanski & Allen Iwinski; Michael R. Berry; L. Duty & R. Luellen F. Stites; Greenoaks Farm; Star Track Farms; Anthony DiPrima; Mike Sterling; Myles Shetler & Sherry Thomas; S. A. of South Florida, Inc.; Xanthi Lull & M. K. Pettas; Gerasimos Moschonas; Franklin C. Rice; Michael Scaletta; Sara Lane Stable; William Pilaras; Larry Durocher, Jr.; Alfred Masilowski & Monte Marohnic; J. D. Brown & Richard Shannon; Ralph Mason, Sr.; Bus No. 9 Ranch; Double Deez Stable; James Newkoop; Our Dream Stable Inc.; Mrs. Stephen C. (Kathryn) Clark, Jr.; Last Thought Farm; Ronald Davis; Kathryn B. Clagett; Herbert Keil; Dennis R . Mills; Kenneth Cooper; Pedro Aguiar & C. Martinez; Siena Stable; John E. Bennett, Jr.; Steven J. Howie; Robert Walsh; Gene A. Edwards; Gary Sullivan; H. Neil Glasser; Gerardo Dominguez Carrillo; Anne Southard & John F. Nichols; Danny C. Garrett; Elmer (Gene) Breeden; First and Last Chance Stable; Winning Stables Inc.; Gilbert G. Campbell; Hugh Barndollar; John Walters; Rolando Martinez, Sr.; Ballyduff Farm, Inc.; Lynn W. & K evin L. Anderson; John Gasparini & James Lillie; Cool Breeze Stables LLC; Susan Lee Chanoski; E K Stable; Anthony M. Garcia; Margaret MacLennan; Vincent Mari; John F. May, Sr.; Bobby Lee Barber; Sommer Day, Inc.; Margaret Hoey; Thomas D . Snyder; Myoung K. Paek; Troy Director; Lyno E . Maraspin; James B axter; D wight Harner; R obert Brown; Tuda Acorn Stables; Kenneth Guilmin; Phyllis Dixon; Triangle Hill Farm; Robert E. Gamber & David Miller; Timothy R. Hough; Clarice Bushee; Billy F. Owens; T & C Stable; Eduardo Garcia; Adrian L. Merton.

Date Posted: 9/12/2007 10:31:52 AM Last Updated: 9/12/2007 10:38:02 PM

Questions sometimes arise as to the naming of various stakes, and such is the case with the inaugural Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes, which kind of came from out of the blue.

If you think it has something to do with golf, namely The Masters at Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia, you’re correct. But the centerpiece of the 25-night meet at the new track near Erie, Pa., is all about six furlongs, not 18 holes.

So what’s the connection? It’s the jacket--though it won't be green like the one at Augusta.

Edson “Ted” Arneault, president of Presque Isle Downs owner MTR Gaming Group, has been using the services of Roberto Angelone, an Italian tailor who has been in business in Erie since 1962, for many years. When track officials were putting together the stakes schedule for Presque Isle, something clicked.

“I told (Angelone) I’d like to make this race distinct,” Arneault said. “We needed something special. The race is for fillies and mares, so that’s a little bit different, but we’re trying to get something unique to Presque Isle.”

The winning trainer of the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes will receive a hand-tailored, old-style English jacket, Arneault said. Angelone purchased all the available cloth from a company in Great Britain to make a jacket that will be “blue like the lake in Erie,” Arneault said.

So after the inaugural running of the stakes the evening of Sept. 15, the winning trainer will be presented with a wooden box filled with the cloth. Angelone will then take the measurements and make a jacket for the man or woman that wins the race.

“The jacket will be really unique for the winning trainer--maybe it will take on an aura like The Masters (golf tournament),” Arneault said. “I think anybody would love to win it. This is a brand-new racetrack, and we don’t have any traditions yet. There’s really nothing like this in racing.

“We’re building on something, and trying to get a little flair.”

The Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes also is lucrative financially. The purse is $400,000, which makes it the richest race of the meet. In addition, the event has been slotted to serve as a prep for the new $1-million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Oct. 26 at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.

Entries for the Masters Stakes were to be drawn Sept. 12. There are two $175,000 stakes on the Saturday night program as well.

Arneault said the meet, which began Sept. 1, is a challenge, but not an unexpected one. The slot-machine casino at Presque Isle is doing very well, but pari-mutuel handle has been light.

“When you’ve left a market for 20 years, it’s actually a new market,” Arneault said of the fact Erie hasn’t hosted Thoroughbred racing since 1987, when Erie Downs closed. “Also, this is a short meet that’s not at the prime of the Erie tourist season. But I think people are getting acclimated to it. We had to take the first step this year.”

In 2008, Presque Isle expects to race about 100 nights from May to September during the height of tourist season.

Date Posted: 9/1/2007 9:57:20 PM Last Updated: 9/3/2007 7:28:33 PM

Amid high expectations and even higher purses, the latest racetrack fueled by slot machine revenues was unveiled Sept. 1, when Presque Isle Downs opened its 25-day meet.

Located near Erie, Penn., Presque Isle boasts average daily purses of about $500,000, with an even higher figure for horses eligible for state-bred bonuses. The lofty purses are a result of revenue from the Presque Isle Casino that began operations Feb. 28.

Enticed by an aggressive marketing campaign and free admission and parking, fans began piling into the track when it opened mid-afternoon for a 5:30 p.m. (EDT) first-race post.

The large crowd overwhelmed the limited areas set aside for watching the races. The clubhouse, which seats 350 to 400 for dining and is the only area above ground level where races can be viewed, was booked well before opening day. The other areas for public viewing of races were the first-floor terrace just off the main casino floor, and the track apron.

An accurate attendance figure was unavailable due to the free admission and access to the races by casino patrons, but track personnel estimated attendance at 15,737. On-track wagering was $126,204, with $460,035 wagered at the more than 300 simulcast outlets taking Presque Isle.

Despite a large number of out-of-state stables shipping in for the inaugural Presque Isle Downs meet, the Pennsylvania Racing Commission licensing office at the track did not open until noon. Numerous owners, trainers, and grooms attempted to be licensed early in the day. Once the office opened, a steady stream of license applicants filed into the office all afternoon and throughout the evening race card.

The track’s first race and the opening-day feature, the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes, was won by Dick Colvin and William Gould’s Miss A. Bomb. Trained by Grant Hofmans, the 3-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid won in a photo finish over Tres Dream and paid $11.80. Favored Cantrel fractured a sesamoid and “disruption of the suspensory apparatus in the right front,” according to the association veterinarian.

“The goosebumps have been here all day, and they have not subsided,” said track president Richard Knight. Presque Isle Downs and Casino is owned by MTR Gaming, which also operates Mountaineer Park racetrack and casino in West Virginia.

Opening of Presque Isle Downs meant a return of live Thoroughbred racing to northern Pennsylvania for the first time since Erie Downs closed in 1987. Although Presque Isle is among the Pennsylvania casino operators required to have live racing as part of its license, Knight said the company would still want to operate a racetrack. “That is how our company got its start,” he said.

Presque Isle is also the first North American track to begin racing over the Tapeta Footings synthetic surface. The eight races went in final times that were formful, with some races won on the front end and others by come-from-behind horses.

Trainer Michael Dickinson, who developed the Tapeta surface, said trainers and jockeys had a favorable impression of the surface. With the exception of the first-race breakdown, all other starters came back safely on the night’s card.

Both Grant Hofmans and Miguel Mena, the winning trainer and jockey, respectively, of Inaugural Stakes winner Miss A. Bomb, attributed the win to the fact the filly trains over the synthetic surface at the Highpoint Training Center in Kentucky.

While the large crowd and successful debut of the Tapeta surface were the high points of the day, Presque Isle did not open without some problems. Jockeys said the jocks’ room was too small and lacked amenities found at most other tracks.

Some trainers said they were not comfortable with the loose gravel base of the stalls in the five 100-stall barns. Hoses were prone to dig through their straw bedding and disrupt the gravel making large ruts in the stall base, the trainers said.

Debbie Howells, Presque Isle’s director of racing, said there are plans to place rubber mats in the stalls to prevent the problem. She said that might not be done for this year’s meet but would be completed before the 100-day summer meet in 2008.

Howells said management plans to meet with all parties involved with racing upon completion of the meet to determine what went well and any problems incurred during the meet.

Date Posted: 8/30/2007 9:38:11 AM Last Updated: 8/30/2007 9:38:11 AM

The first race of the inaugural meet at Presque Isle Downs may very well tell the tale: There is lots of money up for grabs, and horses are coming from all over the place.

Presque Isle, near Erie, Pa., will offer 25 nights of racing from Sept. 1-29 with average daily purses of about $500,000. The slot-machine operation at the racetrack commenced earlier this year, and about $13 million in purse money is available for the 2007 meet.

Next year, Presque Isle will race 100 days from spring through the fall.

The first race, appropriately named the Inaugural Stakes, carries a purse of $100,000. The stakes, for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs, lured a field of 10. The fillies have shipped to northwestern Pennsylvania from their training bases in Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, and Oklahoma.

Interestingly, one of the Inaugural entrants, Coy Coyote, has been in training with Michael Dickinson at his Tapeta Farm in Maryland. Dickinson’s Tapeta Footings synthetic surface will debut for racing purposes at Presque Isle, and is currently being installed at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California.

Horses have been training on the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle for several weeks.

Coy Coyote, owned by Reade Baker’s Harlequin Ranches, won last year’s Mazarine Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine and in her last start finished sixth in the grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park in late July. The Honour and Glory filly has been training well at Tapeta Farm for Dickinson, who has been on hand at Presque Isle to monitor installation of the surface.

Another filly who seems well suited for Presque Isle is Dick Colvin and William Gould’s Miss A. Bomb, who won the Gowell Stakes on Polytrack at Turfway Park last December and has an excellent record on Polytrack. The Lemon Drop Kid filly finished a good fourth in her last start, the grade III Azalea Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Calder Race Course, for trainer Grant Hofmans.

Purses for the eight opening-night races total $332,000 in the condition book, but under a scheme agreed to by track management and the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, they will be 75% higher than the advertised amount. That puts total purses for opening night well over $500,000.

In all, 78 horses were entered for the Sept. 1 opener. Post time is 5:30 p.m. EDT for all programs. The track is dark on Tuesdays.

Presque Isle, owned by MTR Gaming Group, which also owns Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in West Virginia, will offer the first live racing in the Erie area since 1987, when Erie Downs, formerly known as Commodore Downs, closed.

Date Posted: 7/17/2007 10:48:08 AM Last Updated: 7/17/2007 12:14:05 PM

In terms of money, it will be Del Mar, Keeneland, and Saratoga in northwestern Pennsylvania when Presque Isle Downs offers an inaugural 25-night meet with an average of $500,000 per program in purses.

Management and horsemen are putting the finishing touches on the condition book and stakes schedule for the meet, which runs from Sept. 1-Sept. 29 near Erie. It’s projected that about $13 million--most of it revenue from slot machines that began operating earlier this year--will have to be paid out during the first live meet at Presque Isle by law.

The condition book will reflect base purses, but in reality the payouts will be 75% higher under a scheme devised by track owner MTR Gaming Group and the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. First place will earn 75% of the advertised purse, followed by second place at 45%, third place at 20%, four place at 15%, fifth place at 10%, sixth place at 5%, seventh place at 3%, and eighth place at 2%.

Thus, the lowest purse--$14,000 for $10,000 maiden claimers and $5,000 claimers that haven’t won in six months--is actually worth $24,500. A $40,000 maiden special weight event is worth $70,000. The highest overnight purse--$50,000 for an open allowance race--will be $87,500 under the supplement plan.

(For a $40,000 maiden race, the winner would get $30,000 and the second-place horse $18,000, for example.)

The stakes schedule, at about $1.7 million, includes the $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Master Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs Sept. 15. Officials said they hope the stakes serves as a potential prep for the new $1-million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in late October.

The Sept. 15 card will include the $175,000 Presque Isle Mile for 3-year-olds and up at one mile, and the $175,000 Karl Boyes Memorial Northwestern Pa. Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Presque Isle, where the racetrack is one mile in circumference, will be the first to use a Tapeta Footings surface for racing. The synthetic Tapeta surface developed by trainer Michael Dickinson also is being installed at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California.

“This has really been a joint effort with the horsemen,” said Rose Mary Williams, director of racing at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort, which also is owned by MTR Gaming. “We’ve worked together well to make it a really good meet, and the synthetic surface will be a plus.”

Pennsylvania HBPA president Joe Santanna noted the purses for the first Presque Isle meet will be the highest in Pennsylvania racing history. “When I looked over the first condition book, I said, ‘This can’t be a racetrack in Pennsylvania,’ ” Santanna said.

The Erie area has been without live Thoroughbred racing since 1987, when Erie Downs held its last meet. The track, previously called Commodore Downs, which opened in 1973, catered to lower-level claiming horses.

For its final meet 20 years ago, Erie Downs offered 79 days of racing with an average purse of $1,500, according to the Racing Manual. The fifth-place finisher in a $5,000 claiming race will earn that much this year at Presque Isle.

Santanna said if gaming projections hold, Presque Isle should be able to offer about $300,000 a night over 100 programs in 2008. So the published purses in this year’s condition book reflect what purses should look like next year.

Presque Isle has received about 45 stall applications thus far, but that could change when the condition book is officially released. “I think you’ll find they’ll be coming in from all over the country,” Williams said.

Presque Isle will offer eight races per program on a Wednesday-through-Monday schedule with post time at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time. On Sept. 21, Pennsylvania breeders will have their night at the races with six $90,000 stakes for state-breds.

Posted: Saturday, July 07, 2007 12:13 PM

Philadelphia Park in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, and Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pennsylvania, may be forced shut down slot machine operations on Monday if Governor Ed Rendell and state legislators do not come to a consensus on a fiscal year 2007-‘08 budget.

If Rendell and lawmakers fail to reach an accord, 24,000 “non-essential” state workers will temporarily be furloughed. The Revenue Department, which oversees the Pennsylvania’s casino operations, is not considered an essential work force.

Philadelphia Park and Presque Isle Downs, the state’s two Thoroughbred tracks operating slot machine casinos, joined three harness tracks late Friday afternoon in filing a last-minute request for a temporary injunction to stave off the shutdown, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Senior Commonwealth Court Judge Keith B. Quigley said he would rule on the matter Sunday night in Harrisburg if the impasse was not resolved.

David Jonas, president of Philadelphia Park’s casino operations, was not immediately available for comment.

Keith Jones, director of media relations for Philadelphia Park, said the track’s scheduled nine-race Monday card would not be affected by a casino shutdown.

Presque Isle Downs, which began slot machine operations in February, is scheduled to kick off its inaugural Thoroughbred meeting on September 1. Richard Knight, the facility’s president, chief executive officer, and general manager, was not immediately available for comment.

A similar budget standoff last year in New Jersey forced the closing of Atlantic City casinos and the state’s racetracks from July 5-7.

The highly anticipated opening of the new racing and gaming facility at Penn National has been moved into the first quarter of 2008. The building contractors had been working around the clock in an attempt to open in late 2007. However, normal construction delays have now moved the expected opening into January of 2008.

Four-day-a-week racing returned to Penn National Race Course the last week of March. The fourth day of racing and scheduled purse increases through the end of 2007 will be funded from either an agreement with Penn National Gaming Inc. (with the purpose of continued over-funding of purses) or a loan obtained by the Pennsylvania HBPA from a commercial lending institution. The over-funding or loan will be repaid within one year of the commencement of gaming at Penn National Race Course.

The advanced purse dollars will enable purse increases to be implemented in June and September of this year, and in January of 2008. Staggering of purse increases will facilitate a gradual increase in daily overnights that will hopefully enable horsemen to improve their racing stock as the quality of the racing program improves.

The initial purse increase in June will not be an across the board increase. The reason for a non-across the board increase was due to the need to recalibrate the overnight purses. Recalibration will occur with the June increase. Additional purse increases through the end of the year will be 20% across the board.

The 25-day race meet will commence on September 1. During the September meet, the racing schedule will be six days a week (Wednesday through Monday). A daily eight race card will be offered. First post time will be 5:30 p.m., with the last post of the evening at 8:25 p.m.

As of May 14, $4 million has been deposited into the Presque Isle Downs purse account. With the continued accrual of purse dollars through September 30, it is anticipated that an amount in excess of $9 million will be available for distribution during the meet.

The hiring of a racing secretary is expected to be completed by early June, with a condition book made available by July 1, 2007. The availability of stall applications is anticipated in June.

Presque Isle Downs Inc. has formally announced the decision to install Tapeta Footings as the racing surface at Presque Isle Downs. This decision was made after a lengthy fact finding and research period on numerous synthetic surfaces. The Pennsylvania HBPA thanks Presque Isle Downs for sharing information and consulting with the horsemen on this important decision. We look forward to a successful partnership as we embark on a new era of racing within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Posted: 5/17/2007

Shortly after Street Sense was washed down, trainer Carl Nafzger conducted a brief autograph session with representatives of the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

Nafzger signed an oversized photograph of Street Sense’s victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) that the PHBPA donates to a charity auction conducted by the Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) Senators minor league baseball team. The auction benefits United Cerebral Palsy.

Todd Mostoller, a horse owner who is also executive director of the Penn horsemen’s group, was thrilled when Nafzger lent more than just his signature to the print. He directed that the bidding open with his bid of $1,000.

Mostoller said this is the third year that the group has obtained a Derby winning print for the auction. (Jockey Calvin Borel is expected to sign it upon arrival in Baltimore Friday morning). The tradition began with Smarty Jones in 2005, as Mostoller used his “connections within the horse industry” to get the first photo by the Pennsylvania connections of the Derby winner. That was followed in 2006 by another Pennsylvania connected Derby-winning horse, Barbaro.

Although Nafzger and owner Jim Tafel have no direct connections to the Pennsylvania racing industry, Mostoller was able to get the job done this year through the assistance of Kentucky HBPA president Rick Hiles and executive director Marty Maline.

The Pennsylvania HBPA and the charity hope Street Sense’s print does as well as the other two, with Smarty selling for $2,800 and Barbaro going for $1,800.—Ron Mitchell

Posted 5/10/2007, 7:19 pm

The Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission has issued a stay of a ruling by Philadelphia Park's stewards to revoke the license of leading trainer Jayne Vaders, the chairman of the commission said on Thursday.

A hearing has not yet been scheduled to hear Vaders's appeal, which was filed shortly after stewards ruled to revoke her license effective May 8 because of multiple medication violations in the past 13 months, said Ben Noldt, the chairman of the commission.

Vaders, 50, had a horse under her care test positive for acepromazine, a tranquilizer, after winning a race on Feb. 4. She also had positive drug tests for horses under her care on April 11 and Aug. 26 last year.

Acepromazine is a commonly used medication during training that is prohibited in postrace drug tests.

Date Posted: 5/11/2007 12:31:26 PM Last Updated: 5/11/2007 12:31:26 PM

Presque Isle Downs, the new Erie, Pa., track owned by MTR Gaming Group, will install Michael Dickinson’s synthetic Tapeta racing surface before its inaugural Thoroughbred meet begins Sept. 1., said Rose Mary Williams, director of racing at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort and corporate secretary for MTR Gaming Group.

“We looked at Polytrack and also looked at the training centers that have Tapeta, and we believe Michael will give us the best service,” Williams said. “Also, Polytrack couldn’t meet our installation schedule.”

Dickinson’s Tapeta surface primarily consists of sand, with the addition of rubber and fibers coated with hot wax. Preparation for the installation of the new track is currently under way at Presque Isle Downs, which opened earlier this year with slot-machine gaming.

Golden Gate Fields also is scheduled to replace its dirt track with Tapeta this year.

Posted: Sunday, May 06, 2007 7:20 PM

Leading trainer Jayne Vaders will have her training license revoked at Philadelphia Park indefinitely on May 8 after one of her horses tested positive for acepromazine, a Class III drug that is utilized mainly as a tranquilizer.

Las Vegas-based attorney Alan Pincus will attempt to garner a stay from the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission.

Acepromazine is illegal in a horse’s bloodstream on race day, and a normal penalty for such a positive is a 15- to 30-day suspension and a fine.

Philadelphia Park steward Sam Boulmetis, Jr. cited a long-standing Pennsylvania racing rule that states a trainer must be ruled off the track for multiple drug violations.

Pincus called the charges a vendetta against Vaders and said strict enforcement of the “arcane rule” would mean an end to racing in the United States.

Pincus believes most racing jurisdictions would grant reciprocity to the license revocation. He said if Vaders lost her stalls at the Bensalem, Pennsylvania, racetrack, the damage would irreparable.

“[Acepromazine] is one of the two easiest drugs to get a positive on at low levels,” Pincus said. “It’s hard to know if it was a disgruntled employee or someone else with a grudge.”

Trainers are ultimately responsible for positive post-race drug tests on their horses.

Pincus said the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission has yet to provide him with copies of the multiple violations.

“It’s a dirty trick,” Pincus said. “It gives you less time to prepare an appeal.”

Pincus he will seek relief through the courts should the commission deny a stay.

The 50-year-old Vaders tops the Philadelphia Park trainer standing with 43 victories from 184 starters through May 5. She worked as trainer John McCaslin's assistant for nearly ten years before taking over the operation. She took out a training license in 1994 and saddled her first winner in '96.

Vaders won the Philadelphia Park training title in 2006 with 111 winners and purse earnings of $1,278,825. She declined to comment on the matter.

Calls to the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission were not returned.

Posted: Thursday, April 19, 2007 6:07 PM

It is a rare day that the actual purse payout is better than the listed purse, but Pennsylvania-based horsemen will discover that to be the case at this year’s 25-day Presque Isle Downs meeting.

Listed purses will be the amount horsemen anticipate will be offered in 2008, when track offers a full 100-day meeting, giving horsemen some idea of what will be offered in ’08, said Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association President Joe Santanna.

With purse funding available for the full 100 days this year, the purses actually will pay out approximately 175% to horsemen on a structure of 75% to the winner, 40% to second, 20% to third, 15%, 10%, 5%, 4%, and 2% at the meet expected to begin on September 1. Santanna said he expects maiden special purses to be about $40,000.

“We think this structure will make it attractive for horsemen to give Presque Isle a try and see what they think of the track, the surface, and the racing,” Santanna said.

Expected this year is a Pennsylvania-bred day that will offer six stakes worth $90,000 to $100,000 each. He thinks the 25-day schedule also will include about eight $125,000 open stakes and one major stakes with a purse around $350,000.

Also, the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has agreed to help the new Erie, Pennsylvania, track install a synthetic racing surface. Santanna said he expects his group to contribute more than $1-million toward installation of the surface.

Officials from track owner Mountaineer Racing are considering Polytrack and Tapeta Footings for the surface.

“We wanted to show the tracks that our commitment to working together is more than just words,” Santanna said.

He said the funds would come from the group’s administrative fund.

Date Posted: 4/6/2007 12:55:35 PM Last Updated: 4/7/2007 4:25:04 PM

A battle between Philadelphia and Pennsylvania over slot-machine gambling landed in state Supreme Court on Thursday as the state's gambling regulatory agency asked justices to declare it the sole authority over casino placement.

In addition, the lawsuit seeks to head off a planned May referendum that could scuttle casino construction on Philadelphia's waterfront, asking the high court to declare that the Philadelphia City Council had no power to authorize the vote.

"The board seeks an affirmative declaration that ... the board has been constitutionally vested by the General Assembly with the sole and final authority to determine the locations of licensed slots facilities and, therefore, City Council lacked the authority to enact the ordinance," the 22-page suit said.

The court's decision could determine whether Philadelphia will become the nation's largest city with casinos.

A second lawsuit filed Thursday by the state Gaming Control Board asks the Supreme Court to stop the question from getting on the ballot on the grounds that the City Council violated procedures and case law in authorizing it.

The lawsuit argues, among other things, that the council did not provide enough notice of a public hearing on the issue and the ordinance would be unreasonable because it would virtually bar casinos in Philadelphia. In addition, case law prevents zoning changes by referendum, the suit said.

Gaming board chairman Tad Decker said in a statement that the agency decided to file suit now rather than wait until after the May 15 primary election because any delay in casino construction will mean losses of tens of millions of dollars in tax revenues to the city and state.

"We cannot sit idly by and must take this action now because placing this question on the ballot is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars," he said.

In December, the gaming board awarded licenses to SugarHouse Casino and Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia to build on separate sites along the Delaware River. However, the City Council last month unanimously approved a ballot question proposed by casino opponents to prevent slots parlors from being built within 1,500 feet of a school, home, place of worship, civic center or public park, playground, pool or library.

If the question approved and enacted, the city charter would bar a casino on the properties picked by SugarHouse and Foxwoods, and leave only small, far less desirable tracts in South Philadelphia eligible for casino construction, city officials say.

The gaming board promptly threatened a lawsuit after the council's March 15 vote. Council members last week voted to override a veto of the ballot question by Mayor John F. Street.

Council members say they are simply trying to give a voice to people left out when the state Legislature legalized slot machines without public hearings or debate in July 2004. They dismissed public hearings held by the gaming board last year in Philadelphia, saying board members ignored people's opinions.

"People have some serious concerns and fears and interests over what gaming will do to their neighborhood, and I don't see why anyone would want to stifle their voice," Councilman Jim Kenney said. "I think if the Supreme Court were going to rule against the city on the issue of siting gaming facilities, they should at least give people the opportunity to go into the voting booth on May 15th to express their opinion."

Daniel Hunter, a spokesman for Casino-Free Philadelphia, the group that proposed the ballot question, said he believes it will stand up in court. He called the board irresponsible, saying it was trying to override a citizen's right to vote.

If SugarHouse and Foxwoods are prevented from building, the gaming board could be forced to start the licensing process all over again, since those locations were crucial to winning the slots licenses.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which runs the huge Foxwoods Resort Casino on its Connecticut reservation, is a major investor in Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia. Neil G. Bluhm, a billionaire developer from Chicago, is the biggest investor in SugarHouse.

Date Posted: 3/23/2007 7:44:45 AM Last Updated: 3/23/2007 7:46:29 AM

From Jan. 1 through mid-March, slot machines at four racetracks in Pennsylvania had taken in $1.57 billion in bets and produced roughly $17.5 million for purses and breed development for horse racing based on Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board statistics.

The year-to-date leader was Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack, which opened last December, with $632 million in bets. Harrah’s Chester Downs, a harness facility, was next in line at $449 million, but it opened in late January. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, another harness track that opened last fall, had $352 million in gross slots wagers. Finally Presque Isle Downs, which opened March 1 for gaming only, was at $141.9 million after only three weeks.

Under the state’s Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, 12% of adjusted gross revenue from slots at racetracks goes toward purses and breed development programs for Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing. Based on that percentage and total gross terminal revenue of $145.8 million, more than $17.5 million was generated so far this year.

Under the formula, Philly Park produced about $6.6 million for purses and breed development; Chester Downs, whose live meet doesn’t meet begin until June, about $5.1 million; Pocono Downs, which opens for live racing March 31, about $4.1 million; and Presque Isle, where live Thoroughbred racing will debut Sept. 1, about $1.58 million.

The numbers show the slots dynamic of haves and have-nots--just in Pennsylvania. For instance, Pocono Downs, which opened for harness racing in the 1960s, will offer an all-time-high $100,000 a day in purses for its upcoming meet. The minimum purse on the first condition sheet is $4,000 for $5,000 claimers; the highest purse is $20,000 for open-class events.

Meanwhile, at Penn National Race Course, Thoroughbreds for the first 25 racing days of this year competed for daily average purses of $71,000. Penn National is licensed for slots, but owner Penn National Gaming Inc. opted to build a new, integrated racing and gaming facility that won’t open until early 2008 rather than operate a temporary slots facility.

When Penn National slots are operational, purses are expected to approach $200,000 a day under a year-round racing schedule.

The racetrack operators, which keep 45% of adjusted gross revenue from slots, collected the following from Jan. 1 through mid-March: Philly Park ($24.9 million), Chester Downs ($23.5 million), Pocono Downs ($18.9 million), and Presque Isle ($7.2 million).

Current Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission licensees will be required to obtain a new license containing a barcode. Please stop at your track commission office with your current valid license to get your picture taken and receive your new license. If you have lost your current valid license, you will be required to pay a $2 replacement fee.

At a future date, access to the backside will require the possession of the barcode license. This license will be scanned to ensure identity and other security purposes. Please make every effort to obtain your barcode license in a reasonable timeframe.

Act 71 contains a backside improvement provision that allocates $1 million per year for five years, and not less than $250,000 per year in years six through ten. This provision started once Penn National was in receipt of the Category 1 gaming license.

In an effort to ensure the needs of the general membership are satisfied regarding this provision, the Pennsylvania HBPA is in need of input from the general membership. If you have an item or concern regarding the need for an improvement on the backside, please stop in the Pennsylvania HBPA office during regular business hours.

The passage of the slot legislation in Pennsylvania (Act 71) contained a provision for 4% of the horsemen’s monies to fund a health and pension plan for eligible members. We have engaged a benefit consulting firm to explore the options of coverage for our members. The first step requires the completion of a medical census form that will effectively give providers a summary of our eligible members and their dependents.

If you are a trainer and your primary place of business is at Penn National Race Course and you have not completed a medical census form, please do so at your earliest convenience. Forms can be obtained in the Pennsylvania HBPA office and should be returned to the office as soon as possible.

The Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission has informed the horsemen in Pennsylvania that the following rule will be strictly enforced beginning on March 1, 2007:

1. Only one approved nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) may be present in the body of a horse while participating in a race. The presence of more than one NSAID at any test level is forbidden.

2. The test level of phenylbutazone under this section may not be in excess of two micrograms (mcg) per milliliter (ml) of plasma.

3. The test level of oxyphenbutazone under this section may not be in excess of two micrograms (mcg) per milliliter (ml) of plasma.

The use of one NSAID has been in the rules of racing but has not been enforced since permission for the use of Banamine in the racehorse was approved within the Commonwealth.

Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2007 3:14 PM

Penn National Race Course canceled its ninth consecutive live racing card late Thursday morning after horses had the opportunity to work over the track for the first time since last weekend.

The last live racing card at the Grantville, Pennsylvania, track was held on February 1, but weather-related conditions have canceled racing since February 6.

"We got input from the jockeys and exercise riders that were on the track this morning," said Rob Marella, Penn National’s director of racing operations. "Despite the best efforts of our track crew—which has done a terrific job the past three days regaining control of the track—there was the feeling that there was still some inconsistent drying of the surface after all the snow and ice we had last week.

"Couple that with rain that began to fall around noon today, and we were left with no choice but to cancel again. The seemingly constant daily barrage of cold, wind, and all forms of precipitation over the past three weeks has proven to be a tough foe."

Live racing is scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

Posted: Thursday, February 08, 2007 11:44 AM

Penn National Race Course canceled its nine-race card scheduled for Thursday night because of extreme cold in the region.

The Grantville, Pennsylvania, track lost its third consecutive night of live racing this week.

"Everyone was hoping that we could have a slight moderation in the temperatures today and we might get in at least one program this week, but that won't be the case," Penn National Director of Racing Rob Marella said.

"We appreciated the feedback we got from several riders early this morning after they worked some horses. They said that the combination of wind and cold made for very hard conditions, and the temperatures are forecast to drop through the evening."

Full-card simulcasting will continue in the track’s Paddock Club. Penn National's next scheduled live racing card is Tuesday night, with first race post time at 6:45 p.m. EST.

"Nobody benefits if you start a program and then cancel after one or two races, especially horsemen that may have shipped in for the card,” Marella said. “The cancellation is understandable with regards to the safety of the jockeys and horses."

Posted: 1/25/07

In anticipation of an Arctic cold front that was expected to plunge wind chills to single digit readings by early evening, Penn National Race Course canceled its Thursday night nine-race live racing program.

Date Posted: 1/14/2007 12:26:50 PM Last Updated: 1/14/2007 6:34:30 PM

Pennsylvania's two slot-machine gambling parlors took in $8.8 million the first week of January and $40.4 million since opening late last year.

The figures represent the amount gamblers lost. More than half of it is earmarked by law for public education, local government budgets, civic development projects, and racetrack purses.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced Friday that it has begun posting weekly reports on its Web site of the amount wagered on slot machines and paid out to gamblers in Pennsylvania. The postings also show the number of slot machines at each casino and month-to-date and year-to-date tallies of the amounts gambled and lost.

All told, $427.3 million has been gambled and $386.9 million paid back to gamblers.

"The amount of revenues at these facilities has been tremendous, and it is important that this information be available," said Anne Neeb, the gaming board's executive director.

Two racetracks, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and Philadelphia Park, opened slot machine parlors in November and December, respectively.

Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack is scheduled to open a slots parlor later this month. Three more racetracks and five groups licensed to operate freestanding casinos are expected to open slots parlors over the next two years.

Posted: 1/4/2007

The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board has rejected a petition from jockeys at Philadelphia Park seeking to join a union, stating that jockeys are independent contractors and not employees of the racetrack.

The ruling, issued in a letter on Dec. 22, states that "horse jockeys have been determined to be independent contractors rather than employees. Accordingly, the petitioned-for jockeys do not have organizational rights as employees under the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act."

The determination is a setback to the Philadelphia Park riders, who were seeking to join the International Chapter of Journeymen Horseshoers and Allied Trades. Led by longtime rider Tony Black, the jockeys petitioned the board to be represented by the union after failing to secure additional catastrophic insurance coverage from Philadelphia Park.

Federal and state labor boards have consistently ruled that jockeys are independent contractors and therefore cannot engage in collective bargaining. Under the current system, jockeys are considered freelance employees of owners because they are hired by the owners on a race-by-race basis and paid out of the owner's pocket or a share of the owner's purse.

Black said he could not comment on the ruling on Wednesday, referring questions to Gloria Larrondo, the president of the union's Local 97. Larrondo did not return a phone call.

Date Posted: 12/12/2006 10:43:36 AM Last Updated: 12/12/2006 3:59:27 PM

Presque Isle Downs, currently under construction near Erie, Pa., plans to offer 25 nights of Thoroughbred racing for its inaugural season in September 2007, track officials and horsemen said.

The MTR Gaming Group-owned track plans to activate slot machines in the winter of 2007. Rose Mary Williams, director of racing at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort, MTR Gaming's West Virginia property, said slots revenue for the Presque Isle purse account would have months to accrue.

Estimates vary but purses could average about $200,000 a night when the track opens Sept. 1. Racing will be held six nights a week (Tuesday is the dark day) through Sept. 29. Plans call for eight-race programs beginning at 5:30 p.m. EDT.

Beginning in 2008, about 100 days of live racing will be held, probably in late spring, summer, and early fall, when the weather in northwestern Pennsylvania is moderate.

Construction on the grandstand/clubhouse, which will house racing and slots operations, is almost finished. Simulcasts also will be offered in advance of live racing.

Horsemen at Presque Isle, the first Thoroughbred track built in Pennsylvania since defunct Commodore Downs near Erie opened in 1973, will be represented by the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, which also has the horsemen's contract at Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg, Pa.

Joe Santanna, recently elected Pennsylvania HBPA president, said horsemen are in discussions with MTR Gaming on a live-racing agreement. The Pennsylvania HBPA represented horsemen at Commodore Downs.

"I think we're fairly close to coming to an agreement," said Santanna, also president of the National HBPA, of which the Pennsylvania HBPA is an affiliate. "We're hoping through the negotiation process to get them to put in a synthetic surface. We're also hoping for some 'splash days' when we can offer some racing that will be pretty exciting."

Santanna, a Thoroughbred owner who lives near Harrisburg, served as president of the Pennsylvania HBPA in the 1990s. He said he ran for office again because of the changing landscape in the state.

"I ran because I think it's going to be absolutely exciting how racing is going to change in Pennsylvania," he said. "This is pretty ground-breaking stuff. We're going to have two facilities with purses beyond our dreams."

Under the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Development and Gaming Act, purses and breed development get 12% of gross slots revenue, plus up to another 6% from soon-to-be-built non-track slots casinos.

The Presque Isle purse structure remains in flux because no one knows how much revenue will be generated between the opening of the slots parlor and the first live meet. Given the fact the first meet is only 25 days long to meet licensing requirements, daily average purses in 2008 could be lower given the meet will be much longer.

Purses at Penn National, which races more than 200 nights a year, could eventually top $200,000. For the past 10 years they've averaged $57,000-$76,000.

Philadelphia Park, which plans to open its slots parlor Dec. 19-20, expects to offer about $300,000 a day in purses by the middle of 2007, up from the current figure of $145,000.

Penn National again says goodbye to one of its own, Bruno Belluci. Bruno came to Penn National in 1974. His top horse was American Moon, that set a track mark in 1979.

Bruno is survived by his wife Pat, daughters Annette, Pam and Diane, and sons Bruno and Phillip. Daughter Pam Arnold currently is stabled at Penn National.

The annual Christmas party will be held on December 11 at 6:00 p.m. in the Holiday Inn Grantville. Tickets may be purchased in the Pennsylvania HBPA office during regular business hours.

The price of the tickets will be $15. Everyone involved in racing at Penn National is invited to attend.

The Pennsylvania HBPA’s Board of Directors election is over, and the results are in. The new board is composed of the following horsemen:

President – Joe Santanna

Trainer Directors – Stephanie Beattie, Todd Beattie, Steve Brown, Bruce Kravets, and Flint Stites

Owner Directors – Ken Bowman, Cleon Cassel, Robert O’Connor, Ronald Snoberger and Dennis Sweigert

Good luck to the new board as it serves its term.

Penn National horsemen have joined with Philadelphia Park horsemen to investigate why split samples are not being quantified. By quantifying a sample, one is able to determine if the drug was administered or if the test was positive through some kind of accidental contamination by producers, growers, manufactures, etc. Quantification is essential in the penalty phase of an appeal. Look for further information as this topic is explored.

As of October 26, the horsemen at Penn National are once again quarantined due to the EHV-1 virus. This action was taken by both Penn National and Philadelphia Park after there were four confirmed cases of EHV-1 at Monmouth Park. Horses are permitted to leave the grounds, but will not be permitted to return until the gates are reopened. The projected time for the quarantine is 21 days from the date of the last positive test. Penn National will continue to race, but the entries will only be drawn from those horses currently on the grounds.

Date Posted: 11/14/2006 11:41:51 AM Last Updated: 11/14/2006 5:10:27 PM

About 100 gamblers, some standing for hours in a foggy drizzle, waited in line Tuesday morning for Pennsylvania's first slot-machine parlor to open to the public more than two years after lawmakers authorized gambling to raise money for property tax relief.

The Mohegan Indian tribe of Connecticut spent $70 million on a nicely appointed but no-frills slots parlor that includes two gambling floors with nearly 1,100 machines, a bar, and a food court with three restaurants.

"I think everybody is a little nervous but also very excited," said Robert Soper, chief executive officer of the new Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. "It was never our goal _ and frankly it was never that important to us _ to open first, but certainly we are going to celebrate the fact."

While the building can't measure up to the glitz and glamor of gambling palaces in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, N.J., it doesn't have to. Thousands are expected to show up Tuesday, lured by the novelty and convenience of all-hours legalized gambling in Pennsylvania.

Jean Ruddy, a retiree from nearby Scranton, was in line with her husband, Tom. An avid slots player who visits Atlantic City about once a month, Ruddy said she was looking forward to having a slots casino so close to home.

She hoped that the machines might be a little more generous on their first day. "If I'm doing well, I'll come quite a bit," she said.

Once inside, gamblers will try their luck at video gambling games such as Pocono Pennies, Lucky Lemmings and Triple Stars, plunking down anywhere from a penny to $25 per spin as scantily-clad cocktail waitresses serve up drinks and beefy bouncers in black suits and T-shirts maintain order.

Although Gov. Ed Rendell hailed the casino opening as an important first step in delivering property-tax relief to Pennsylvanians, casino opponents forecast an increase in crime and other social ills.

CasinoFreePa, an anti-gambling group, asked state Attorney General Tom Corbett on Monday to prevent Mohegan Sun and other Pennsylvania casinos from opening until his office investigates whether slot machines comply with fraud and consumer protection laws.

Dianne M. Berlin, the group's leader, predicted a host of negative consequences for areas of the state with casinos: "Crime, bankruptcies, divorce, people embezzling from their employers" to support their gambling addictions.

"I have story after story after story of real people who would not have done the things they did, but gambling became very convenient for them," she said. "Convenience gambling is the worst gambling."

Corbett's spokesman, Kevin Harley, said the office would investigate any consumer complaints but that it is the responsibility of gambling regulators and state police to make sure the slot machines are working properly.

The tribe, which operates a gigantic casino in Connecticut and paid $280 million for Pocono Downs in 2004, plans a second phase of development that will nearly double the number of slot machines and add retail shops, a nightclub and other amenities.

When fully operational with 2,000 machines, the slots parlor projects it will gross $230 per machine, per day, for total annual revenues of $167.9 million.

The state plans to use gambling revenues to cut taxes for homeowners and workers who pay Philadelphia's wage tax, fatten horse-racing purses, and support a rent rebate program for senior citizens.

"We have a brand-new industry in Pennsylvania," said gubernatorial spokeswoman Kate Philips, "and the value of it will be exceedingly evident over the coming months as people begin to get jobs in the gaming industry and over the coming years as they begin to see their property taxes reduced dramatically."

Posted: 11/8/06

PA HBPA Election results

President - Joe Santanna

Trainers -
Todd Beattie
Stephanie Beattie
Steve Brown
Bruce Kravets
Flint Stites

Owners -
Ken Bowman
Cleon Cassel
Robert O'Conner
Ron Snoberger
Dennis Sweigart

The new Board takes office on November 13, 2006.

Posted: 11/7/2006 5:41:49 PM

Bruno Bellucci, a longtime leader among trainers at Penn National Race Course, died on November 5 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was 70.

A native of Chicago, Bellucci started working at Arlington Park after leaving the military in 1957 and received his trainer's license two years later. He arrived in Central Pennsylvania in 1974 and enjoyed his best local campaign in '94, when he saddled 161 winners from 806 starters.

Since 1976, Bellucci's horses compiled purse earnings of $8,054,095 while winning 1,512 races from 10,528 starts. He saddled Chief Whitehair to victory in the 1997 William Livingston Stakes at the Meadowlands.

Bellucci trained American Moon, who set a track record at Penn National by winning nine-consecutive starts in 1979. The Lunar Voyage horse concluded his season with 12 wins.

"Bruno was very successful but never really clamored for the spotlight," Penn National Publicity Director Fred Lipkin said. "He surrounded himself with a dedicated staff or caretakers, exercise riders, and jockeys, and preferred to give them the praise and credit for making him a success.

"He always had a smile, and if anyone asked, he always had a story about the game. He will be dearly missed by the many friends he made over the years."

Bellucci is survived by his wife, Patricia, and daughters Annette, Pam, and Diane, and sons Bruno and Philip. Pam operates a public racing stable at Penn National.

Date Posted: 10/26/2006 10:19:09 AM Last Updated: 10/26/2006 10:19:09 AM

Presque Isle Downs, a Thoroughbred racetrack under construction near Erie, Pa., was awarded a conditional slot-machine license Oct. 25 and plans to have the reels spinning by mid-February 2007.

The conditional license was the sixth awarded by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. It came one month after the board distributed conditional licenses to five other racetracks, including Penn National Race Course and Philadelphia Park.

After the board's vote, Ted Arneault, president and chief executive officer of Presque Isle Downs owner MTR Gaming Group, which also owns Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in West Virginia, said the facility would open with 2,000 slots. Live racing would begin in September.

The $250-million facility will feature five bars, a buffet, and a restaurant overlooking the racetrack, Arneault said.

Presque Isle Downs hopes to capitalize on Erie's attraction as a lakefront tourist spot and to extend its tourism season past summer with the lure of gambling and events like snowmobile racing at the track. He said he also hoped to hold outdoor concerts there.

The gaming control board is scheduled to vote Dec. 20 on whether to award up to six slots licenses to 14 applicants, and whether to award permanent licenses to the six racetracks.

Posted: 10/26/2006 5:12:56 PM

Boosted by the sale of Pocono Downs, Penn National Gaming Inc.'s net income nearly tripled to $155.1 in the third quarter, compared to $55.1-million during the same period last year.

The company's net income included a gain of $114.7-million from the sale of Pocono Downs harness track and five Pennsylvania off-track wagering facilities to the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority.

Revenue doubled to $586.1 million from $286.9 million, reflecting acquisitions and the reopening of some casinos that were damaged last year by Hurricane Katrina.

The company began construction during the quarter of a racetrack facility at Penn National Race Course that will include 3,000 slot machines. The company's net revenue from Pennsylvania racing operations was $12.7-million for the quarter, a 3.8% decline from $13.2-million in the same period last year.

Net revenue from the Charles Town Races complex increased 7.2%, from $118-million to $127-million.

For the nine months ended on September 30, Penn National's net income has nearly tripled, from $83-million to $240-million.

Posted: 9/27/06

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday granted conditional approvals for five racetracks, including Philadephia Park and Penn National Race Course, to begin operating slot-machine casinos.

The board's approvals came more than two years after the Pennsylvania legislature passed a bill authorizing up to 61,000 slot machines at seven racetracks and seven other free-standing sites in the state. In addition to the state's two existing Thoroughbred tracks, the gaming control board granted conditional licenses to two long-time harness tracks, Pocono Downs and the Meadows, along with a new harness track south of Philadelphia, Chester Downs, that opened earlier this month.

With 50 percent of the revenues from slot machines retained by the operators, the casinos are expected to make millions of dollars for track and casino operators, fatten purses at Thoroughbred and harness tracks, and enable the state to cut property taxes. At 61,000 machines, Pennsylvania will have more slot machines than any other state other than Nevada.

Bob Green, a principal in the group that owns Philadelphia Park, said on Wednesday that he expects the track's temporary casino to open by the end of 2006. Philadelphia began a renovation project to convert the first two floors of its grandstand into a temporary casino this summer, and has plans to build a free-standing casino elsewhere on the 450-acre property.

"We've already done a lot of the preparation and construction, and we've already moved our racing operations to the third floor," Green said. "We're in very good shape in terms of putting the finishing touches on an opening."

Gary Luderitz, the general manager of Penn National, said on Wednesday that the track's casino should open "by late 2007 or early 2008." Penn National began a $260 million renovation project this year that entailed tearing down its old grandstand, in order to replace the building with a casino that will also include amenities for racing fans.

"It will be one totally integrated racing and gaming facility," Luderitz said.

The legislation earmarked 12 percent of the gross revenues from slot machines at all 14 facilities in the state to horsemen. Green has said that once all the casinos are open, purses at Philadelphia will likely top $400,000 a day. That would put Philadelphia Park in the top tier of racetracks in the U.S., by average purse distribution.

Green said that under an agreement with the group representing horsemen at the Philadelphia, the full purse subsidy would likely not be realized for "two to three" years after the casino at the track opens. Horsemen have been receiving an advance on the money that they are expected to reap from the machines for the past 18 months, and additional increases will be phased in gradually, Green said.

Fred Lipkin, a spokesman for Penn National, said that purses at the track, which currently run about $65,000 a day, "will easily double" at the time that the casino opens.

The Wednesday approvals will also facilitate Magna Entertainment's sale of the Meadows harness track to two developers. Magna, which has been struggling to turn a profit under enormous debt loads, reached an agreement last year to sell the Meadows for $200 million, contingent on the track receiving a gambling license.

Date Posted: 9/25/2006 3:27:31 PM Last Updated: 9/25/2006 3:27:31 PM

Pennsylvania gambling regulators are expected to give the state's racetracks the go-ahead Sept. 27 to plug in thousands of slot machines, the biggest step in two years toward making Pennsylvania one of the nation's busiest gambling markets.

The seven-member Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is scheduled to vote on whether to grant conditional slots licenses to the state's six racetrack owners, which include the nation's largest casino operator, Harrah's Entertainment Inc. With most, if not all, of the racetracks expected to get the nod, Pennsylvanians for the first time will soon be able to play slots in their home state, instead of driving to Atlantic City, N.J., Delaware, New York, or West Virginia.

To wrap around the gambling floors, the racetrack owners are spending well over $1 billion to tear down old grandstands and rebuild them with steakhouses, spas, and sports bars. The Mohegan Indians, who operate a huge casino in Connecticut, are shooting to open the first slots parlor in Pennsylvania. Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, in the northeastern region of the state, could open its doors as early as November.

"We're going about 100 mph right now," racetrack spokesman Jim Wise said. "It's a very exciting time. It's a lot of long hours and lot of energy being expended, but it's all worthwhile to get this building open."

A temporary slots parlor in the renovated grandstand at the track near Wilkes-Barre will house the machines until a more elaborate gambling hall can be built over the next two years. The rest of the racetrack owners expect to unveil slots casinos over the course of the next year. In December, the gaming board plans to decide whether to issue permanent slots licenses to the racetracks, as well as to pick from among 15 casino developers and established resorts that are competing with one another for seven additional slots licenses.

A 14th slots license is set aside for whoever wins the state's final harness racing license. Applicants from Lawrence and Beaver counties were rejected by the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission, but a Pennsylvania appeals court said the commission erred in rejecting the bid of Bedford Downs in Mahoning Township. The court upheld the rejection of Valley View Downs in Beaver County. The appeals court decision is being appealed by both the commission and Valley View Downs.

Ultimately, Gov. Ed Rendell expects Pennsylvania's slots parlors to pull in $3 billion a year, with most of the state's share to be used to help cut local taxes and boost the state's share of spending on public schools.

If his projection proves accurate, Pennsylvania would become the third-biggest commercial gambling state in the nation, behind Nevada and New Jersey and ahead of Mississippi and Indiana, based on 2005 statistics compiled by the American Gaming Association.

Pennsylvania's July 2004 law that legalized slots allows up to 61,000 machines, a number that would make Pennsylvania the second-biggest slots state behind Nevada, not counting Indian casinos.

With racetracks in each corner of the state and most near major population areas, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, at least two-thirds of Pennsylvanians will live within an hour's drive of a gambling hall. Pennsylvania's racetrack slots also will be an hour's drive from competing gambling destinations, such as Atlantic City.

Pennsylvania's horse breeders and racetrack owners are heralding the arrival of slots as the savior of the state's declining equine industry. With neighboring states using slots to plump up purses at their racetracks, many breeders and bettors have drifted away from Pennsylvania in recent years, industry officials said.

"It will be the first time in a long period that people will be able to make money in this business in Pennsylvania," said Joe Thomson, a Pennsylvania-based Standardbred breeder who has farms in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Canada--but not Pennsylvania.

Many officials in Pennsylvania's racetrack towns also have welcomed the slots as a boon to their bottom lines. Officials in the Bensalem Township have long been slots boosters because they feared losing Philadelphia Park, the biggest employer and taxpayer there.

Once again, we sadly say goodbye to several other noted horsemen. William “Bill” Yeagley and Henry “Hank” Miller, Sr. were both laid to rest this past month. Both of these trainers spent many years at Penn National and provided many with precious memories. Although they are gone, they have left their mark on many forever.

The old grandstand is completely demolished. The rubble has been hauled away, and the jackhammers have been silenced. The Penn National grandstand that stood for over 30 years is completely gone. All that is left is our memories and photos.

It is hoped that the slot machine licenses will be issued in October of 2006. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new racino facility is scheduled for September of 2006. With the start of construction to begin in September, the projected completion date could be as early as December of 2007 or the first quarter of 2008.

Frustrated while attempting to watch your horse run with the current televised displays? Your problems may be solved in the near future. Penn National is working to hook up several televisions that will provide the horsemen with the stewards’ views. These televisions will be located in the racing office. Hopefully, this will enable the horsemen to watch their horses run the entire race, whether they run wire-to-wire or close like a freight train.

The nominating meeting for the Pennsylvania HBPA Board of Directors election was held on August 19. Nominations of owners and trainers were taken for the upcoming elections.

The elections will be held in October, with the ballots being mailed on October 2.

This is a timely and costly undertaking. Ballots must be returned to the Pennsylvania HBPA office no later than November 3, 2006.

All horsemen are encouraged and reminded to vote and return their ballots. Remember that these horsemen are to fairly represent all horsemen.

The start-up date for slot machines has come and gone (April 2006), hence the $4 million dollar advancement given to the horsemen by Penn National. The advancement had been carefully calculated and met the original start date as projected. However, the slot machines have still not arrived and look to be at least one year away.

Due to this delay, management decided not to allow further increase of the overpayment. The Pennsylvania HBPA board explored many options/alternatives and decided upon the three day a week racing schedule. Penn National management chose the days that we would race and changed the post-time so the first race post time is 6:45 p.m.

The $100 payment for finishing in sixth through twelfth place has also been changed to $50.

There are new federal and state regulations known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs. The regulations were developed to clean up our waterways. These regulations pertain to facilities that have 500 or more animals and were to assure the safe removal of waste (manure) and water. As a result, Penn National must develop a plan for the removal of manure, and eventually water, and this plan must be approved to avoid substantial fines levied at Penn National.

Since the current means of manure removal is not adequate to meet the regulations, alternative disposal methods are being sought. Currently, the only approved removal method would require all horses to be bedded on straw, with the manure being hauled to mushroom growers. This is hoped to be a short term solution until other alternatives can be found.

Penn National management has announced the delay in switching the backside to straw. Management has informed the horsemen that they will provide a 45-day notice of the straw-only start date. Everyone’s patience through this process is appreciated.

Date Posted: 9/12/2006 8:11:06 AM Last Updated: 9/12/2006 8:11:06 AM

Pennsylvania gambling regulators began licensing hearings Sept. 11 that will be a prelude to authorizing slot machines at racetracks later this year.

If all goes smoothly for the racetrack owners, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs could open the first slots parlor at a makeshift center this year, and Harrah's Chester Casino & Racetrack could open a finished slots parlor in January. Executives from the gambling companies that would own the racetrack slots parlors came to Harrisburg, the state capital, for the hearings to give their pitches and answer questions from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

At times, the questions were pointed.

"I have a big problem sitting here and listening to you tout your commitment to diversity," board member Sanford Rivers told Harrah's Entertainment officials after noting that only a tiny fraction of the track's construction costs through June were spent on minority-owned firms.

The 2004 law that legalized slots directed the gaming board to push applicants to ensure that minorities are represented among their owners, employees, and contractors.

The $500 million-plus Harrah's Chester facility opened for live harness racing Sept. 10 at the site of a shuttered shipyard along the Delaware River. Harrah's officials said they had sought minority-owned firms to compete for big contracts on jobs such as design and steel fabrication, but found none. Harrah's senior vice president Jan Jones said the board members' questions made clear that applicants must take diversity issues seriously.

In addition, applicants will have to plan for a non-smoking casino, Jones said, judging by the slew of questions from board members about how the companies would react to an indoor smoking ban in Pennsylvania. Board members also clashed with the owners of The Meadows racetrack in suburban Pittsburgh, saying their projections indicated slots at the track would produce far less revenue than the estimates advanced by the track's consultants. William Paulos, a principal of Milennium Gaming Inc. and co-owner of The Meadows, stood by his company's projections. If the board's figures are right, he said, the company wouldn't be able to run a profitable operation.

The hearings in the Pennsylvania State Museum auditorium continue Sept. 12 and are supposed to wind up Sept. 27. They are tied specifically to conditional slots licenses for racetrack owners that the board hopes to issue in two weeks to give the racetracks a head start on gambling. Further hearings are anticipated before the board votes on the permanent licenses in December.

The board is authorized to issue 14 slots licenses to racetracks, resorts, and stand-alone casinos. Seven of those licenses are reserved for racetracks, though there are only six applicants for them: Philadelphia Park, Penn National Race Course, Harrah's Chester, The Meadows, and Pocono Downs, all of which current operate; and the under-construction Presque Isle Downs near Erie.

The hearings on the Philly Park and Penn National applications are to be held Sept. 12. The first two floors of the Philly Park grandstand already have been gutted to make room for slots; the old grandstand/clubhouse at Penn National has been demolished and will be replaced with an integrated racing and gaming facility.

The gaming board has scheduled licensing hearings leading up to Dec. 20, when it is expected to vote on all 22 applications that have been filed.

Posted: 8/11/06

Jockeys Thomas Clifton and Ediberto Rodriguez were hospitalized with injuries sustained when their mounts fell during Thursday night's third race at Penn National Race Course.

Clifton, 37, the track's leading rider with 96 wins, broke his nose, collarbone, and several ribs. He also underwent a non-surgical procedure to halt internal bleeding caused by a lacerated liver.

Rodriguez, 38, sustained back injuries and is expected to be placed in a partial body cast at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He currently ranks sixth in the Penn National jockey standings with 54 victories.

The accident occurred shortly after the start of a mile-and-70-yard turf race. Clifton's mount, I Wish I Slew, came into tight quarters with another runner, Fire Mound, as the field approached the first turn. I Wish I Slew, a 7-year old gelding, fell to the ground and Rockpile, ridden by Rodriquez, was unable to avoid the fallen horse.

Date Posted: 8/4/2006 8:04:27 AM Last Updated: 8/4/2006 8:04:27 AM

Republican state senators Thursday urged the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to delay licensing the first slots parlors until the legislature has approved revisions to the state's two-year-old gambling law.

An agency spokesman said gambling regulators still plan to start awarding slots licenses in late September.

The call for a delay came during a news conference in which four Republican senators proposed a package of 21 bills they said would close loopholes in the law and give lawmakers more oversight over Pennsylvania's nascent gambling industry.

Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R., Dauphin) said he recently received a letter from board chairman Tad Decker offering assistance with the legislation.

"I am calling on [Decker] and the rest of the gaming board to cease the issuance of any licenses for anything until the end of October so these legislative and procedural issues can be resolved," Piccola said.

Lawmakers and Gov. Rendell have been wrestling with how to modify the law since it was passed in July 2004. Concerns have arisen about provisions such as one that would allow lawmakers to own as much as 1 percent of a gambling company.

The package endorsed by Senate Republicans includes measures that would require lawmakers to approve the board's spending, ban outside employment of board members, and broaden the state attorney general's enforcement power over the gambling industry.

Christopher Craig, a lawyer for Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D., Phila.), said many of the GOP-supported changes are included in legislation that awaits a Senate vote along with an amendment Fumo is sponsoring.

"A lot of this is election-year campaigning against the governor," Craig said.

Rendell's spokeswoman, Kate Philips, said yesterday that the governor's office has offered its own suggested changes to the law "more than once, and we think consensus could be reached in a matter of days."

Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann plans to offer his own ideas for overhauling the gambling law at a news conference in Pittsburgh today.

Date Posted: 8/2/2006 8:26:18 AM Last Updated: 8/2/2006 1:01:34 PM

A racetrack at which all revenue after expenses would go toward the racing product remains in the works and in the running for a license in Pennsylvania, but the individual spearheading the project said it remains to be seen whether it would be a Thoroughbred track without slot machines, or a dual-breed facility with slots.

Joe Santanna, president of "100% Purses," a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, first discussed the plan three years ago when an application for a Thoroughbred license was submitted to the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission. The idea behind Freedom Park, which would be located in the Lehigh Valley less than two hours north of the Philadelphia metropolitan area, is to reinvest all profits in the purse structure.

Two other entities based in western Pennsylvania are seeking the lone remaining Thoroughbred license, which doesn't carry a provision for slot machines. There is, however, one Standardbred license not yet awarded, and that one does come with the right to apply for a slots license.

The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act of 2004 allows for slots at seven tracks and seven non-track locations. The state's four existing tracks are awaiting slots licenses, as are two others now under construction.

The licensing process for the harness track got caught up in a legal fight that has created a lengthy delay. The Pennsylvania State Harness Racing Commission has appealed to the state Supreme Court a Commonwealth Court ruling ordering it to reconsider a license application for a track in the western part of the state.

Santanna indicated the situation could open a door for Freedom Park, which would be located on 485 acres in Palmer Township in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metropolitan area.

"Our hope is they reopen the application process for a Standardbred license," Santanna said. "We're poised to submit an application for a Standardbred license, and if we get the Thoroughbred license, run (dual-breed) meets like they do at Meadowlands and Woodbine."

Santanna noted there's a provision in the slots law that says if a Category 1 license--one for slots at tracks--isn't issued in five years, it reverts to a Category 2 license, which is for non-track slots casinos. That leaves about three years for the licensing process.

When the Freedom Park plan was unveiled, organizers said the track would offer 100 days of live racing within three years of opening, with daily average purses of $1 million based on projected slots revenue. As additional profits are generated, the meet would be expanded or purses would be increased.

Santanna was asked if the project would be viable without the slots license.

"We've looked at the numbers under those circumstances," Santanna said. "We could race 75-100 days, not the 220 days a year the Thoroughbred tracks in the state now run, for about $100,000 a day in purses. We think there's a niche in Pennsylvania for that (type of program)."

Currently, purses at Philadelphia Park average about $130,000 a day, and at Penn National Race Course, $70,000 a day. When slots revenue kicks in, purses at those two tracks could increase to about $350,000 and $200,000 per day, respectively.

"When their purses are (boosted by slots) and ours are not, we think there will be plenty of horses looking to run for a $100,000 a day," Santanna said. "There could be a lot of Pennsylvania-breds looking for a place to run until the (breeding) program gets competitive with the new purse structure in the state."

Santanna said having a Thoroughbred track without slots would force 100% Purses to scale back its plan and seek financing from investors "other than Wall Street." But he said the model of returning all profits to horsemen for purses and racing amenities wouldn't change.

"We'll always have that model," said Santanna, who also serves as president and chairman of the National HBPA. "But with slots, it makes the model look interesting, novel, and attractive."

Freedom Park would be located within two hours of Penn National in Grantville, Pa., Philly Park near Philadelphia, and Meadowlands in northern New Jersey. The Downs at Pocono, a harness track located near Wilkes-Barre, Pa., about 1 1/2 hours north of the Lehigh Valley, has operated an off-track betting parlor near Allentown since the early 1990s.

Posted: 8/2/2006 7:12:58 PM

F. Eugene Dixon Jr., an owner and breeder and a member of the Jockey Club, died Wednesday of cancer at Abingdon Memorial Hospital, in Abingdon, Pennsylvania. He was 84.

Dixon recently stepped down as chairman of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, a post he also held from 1986-'97.

Dixon was an avid sportsman, a former majority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and minority shareholder in the Philadelphia Flyers. A descendant of the Widener family, which has a long history in American racing and breeding, he and his wife, Edith, own the family's historic Erdenheim Farm in Pennsylvania.

A philanthropist, Dixon gave generously to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, where the facility's George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals is named for his uncle.

Dixon also led efforts to legalize off-track betting in Pennsylvania, and worked with Governor Ed Rendell on legislation that legalized slot machines at racetracks in the state.

At the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale, Dixon paid $950,000 for two-time Grade 3 winner Solvig, who has since produced the first Pennsylvania-bred son of dual classic winner Smarty Jones, who also was bred in Pennsylvania.

"He wanted to support the home team," Rick Abbott, whose Charlton Bloodstock Services bought the nine-year old Caerleon mare on Dixon's behalf, said at the time.

Aside from his involvement in sports, Dixon was a former educator whose interests extended to medical and civic organizations to which he donated and raised money. He served from 1983-2000 as chairman of the Pennsylvania university system, which contains 14 state universities.

The family will conduct a private internment, and memorial services will be held later in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, and Palm Beach, Florida. The family requests any memorial contributions be made to Abingdon Memorial Hospital; Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, Ellsworth, Maine; or Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, Florida.—ML

Date Posted: 8/1/2006 11:52:09 AM Last Updated: 8/1/2006 1:33:54 PM

Hearings for the companies seeking licenses to operate slot machines at racetracks have been set by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which could vote on conditional licenses in late September.

The board has set Sept. 11-12 for hearings on conditional licenses sought by six racetracks, two of which have not yet offered live racing. On the Thoroughbred side, hearings will be held Sept. 12 for Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association (Penn National Race Course) and Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment (Philadelphia Park). The hearing for Presque Isle Downs, a track under construction near Erie, is set for Sept. 11.

Three hearings for Standardbred applicants are set for Sept. 11: Washington Trotting Association (The Meadows), Downs Racing (Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs), and Chester Downs and Marina, which is under construction in Chester but scheduled to open for live harness racing in September.

Licensing hearings for non-track slots casino applicants are scheduled for October and November. Only the tracks are eligible for conditional licenses because they already are gambling enterprises licensed by the two state racing commissions.

The racetracks will have a second round of hearings Dec. 4-5 for permanent slots licenses, but it is possible slots could be operating before then.

"The whole purpose of conditional licenses is to get (the tracks) started faster," said Nick Hays, director of communications for the gaming control board. "Hypothetically--but I don't think it will happen--once a license is issued, they could open their doors. Each one has its own business plan, and once they receive a license, it's pretty much up to them."

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that gaming control board chairman Tad Decker said the board could vote on licenses at its Sept. 27 meeting.

Greenwood already has begun demolition work on the first and second floors of the grandstand at Philly Park to get the facility ready for slots. (The racing operation is now concentrated on the third floor.) The Bensalem Township track could be the first Thoroughbred facility in the state to turn on the machines should it be licensed in a timely fashion.

"The expectation here is that, if the license is issued in late September or early October, we will strive to be open in December," Greenwood chief executive officer Hal Handel said.

In its second-quarter earnings report, Penn National Gaming Inc., which owns Penn National near Harrisburg, said construction on the integrated racing and slots facility called the "Hollywood Casino at Penn National" would begin in August. PNGI chairman Peter Carlino said, because it has been two years since the plan was conceived, the construction budget has jumped 18% to $310 million.

When construction does commence, the Penn National project is expected to take 12-14 months. Racing continues year-round at the track, and because the old grandstand is to be demolished, a temporary betting facility similar to one of the company's off-track wagering parlors is now in use near the top of the stretch.

Officials at MTR Gaming Group, which is building Presque Isle Downs, have said live racing would commence in late 2007. Thoroughbred racing in the area hasn't been held since Erie Downs (previously Commodore Downs) went out of business in the 1980s.

The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act of 2004 provides that 12% of gross slots revenue go toward purses and breed devleopment. The racing industry also has an interest in non-track slots casinos because revenue from them could push racing's share to 18% in some instances.

The slots licensing hearings, to be held in the state capital of Harrisburg, will provide the gaming control board with an opportunity to question applicants about their character, operational and financial suitability, community impact, diversity plans, plans for the prevention of compulsive gaming, and other issues. The hearings are open to the public.

Date Posted: 7/11/2006 11:04:31 AM Last Updated: 7/11/2006 11:04:31 AM

The state's tax rate on slot-machine gambling in Pennsylvania is the subject of a widening dispute with three horse-racing tracks, a problem that could mean later opening dates for some casinos.

The state Revenue Department recently said it planned to enforce a $10 million minimum tax on the gambling revenue that racetracks and other slots licensees will owe to their host municipality.

The $10 million minimum is likely far larger than what the three racetracks would owe under the 2% tax that they maintain was intended by the state's two-year-old slot-machine gambling law. Racetrack officials say it will also be a disproportionately bigger bite of revenues at lower-grossing slots parlors, particularly those farther away from bigger cities.

"This isn't just an issue of concern for the racetracks," said Mike Jeannot, a vice president of the Magna Entertainment Corp. subsidiary that owns the Meadows racetrack in suburban Pittsburgh. "This will become an issue of concern for all licensees down the road."

The timing of the slots parlors' opening has become a politically sensitive issue because one-third of the gambling revenue is to be used to reduce taxes for millions of homeowners and for people who pay Philadelphia's wage tax.

State gambling regulators may award slots licenses by October to six racetracks, which were practically guaranteed casino licenses in the 2004 slots law. The rest of the 14 slots licenses may be issued as early as December, although most of those recipients are not yet known because the application process is competitive.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, just outside Wilkes-Barre, has put construction of its slots parlor on hold until it resolves the tax issue, said Bobby Soper, the racetrack's president and CEO.

At the Meadows, Jeannot said, the $10 million minimum tax leaves little financial incentive to spend the money to set up a temporary casino building while a permanent one is being built.

The third racetrack that is protesting the flat tax, Presque Isle Downs near Erie, is looking into ways to use some of the $10 million to subsidize its marketing or construction costs, said Ted Arneault, chief executive of the racetrack's owner, MTR Gaming Group Inc.

The law will have less of an effect, if any, on two other racetracks, Philadelphia Park and Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack, both in suburban Philadelphia. A sixth racetrack, Penn National Race Course in suburban Harrisburg, had planned to pay the $10 million minimum all along, a spokesman said.

Lawmakers say the $10 million minimum was clear in the legislation and have shown little inclination to change the law.

"That was there to help local government out," said Sen. Robert J. Mellow, the Senate Democratic leader from Lackawanna County. "No, we're not going to change it."

Jeannot, Soper and Arneault say they had understood the law to dictate that their racetracks would owe a 2% municipal tax on slots revenue. Under that scenario, the tracks would owe $2 million in municipal taxes on revenue of $100 million, or $4 million on revenue of $200 million.

But in regulations that became final July 1, the Revenue Department said the law dictates a $10 million minimum municipal tax. The result for some of the lower-grossing slots parlors is that the overall 52% base tax rate could balloon to 60% or more.

Under current law, a municipality can only receive up to 50% of its budget in slots revenue. The rest of the $10 million effectively goes toward other uses in the county -- either the county's budget or municipal or economic development grants, depending on the county.

Posted: 7/5/2006 11:10:47 AM

Two years after slot machine gambling was legalized in Pennsylvania and a year after determining what regulations to use, state regulators made a bit of progress last month toward the creation of six racetrack/casinos.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board took an important step forward when it began issuing licenses for middleman firms called slots distributors--newly formed companies that will buy slot machines from manufacturers and resell them to casinos.

That action was important because under the state's slots law, racinos cannot be licensed until at least 90 days after the slots distributors are licensed. By early October, the board is expected to begin granting slots licenses.

The need for slots distributors has been called into question, however.

Before the Pennsylvania Legislature adjourned on Sunday, lawmakers failed to take final action on a move to eliminate slots distributors, which do not exist in other states with slot machine gambling. Some Pennsylvania politicians say they do not see a need for them in Pennsylvania either.

State Senator Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) tried to get rid of the distributor requirement in June, getting a bill through the Senate only to see the House end its session before acting on it. The Pennsylvania Legislature will not again convene until late September.

Orie may bring the issue up again in the fall. She said, and many people agree, that the middlemen are not needed to create the new casinos and they are just a way for politically connected lobbyists and other power brokers to make money off slots.

When the Legislature convenes, discussion is expected on other potential changes to the 2004 Pennsylvania slots law.

A proposed 150-page amendment contains items such as banning politicians from owning up to 1% of a casino (which is permitted under the current law) and giving the state attorney general more power to investigate casinos.—Tom Barnes

Date Posted: 6/18/2006 12:12:41 PM Last Updated: 6/18/2006 12:12:41 PM

A dispute over whether slot machine distributors should be allowed to operate statewide or regionally is threatening to delay the opening of Pennsylvania's first slots parlors this fall, the state's top gambling regulator warned.

Tad Decker, the chairman of the seven-member Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, said licensing the first slots parlors at racetracks may have to be pushed back from this fall until late 2007 unless the impasse is resolved in the next couple of weeks.

"I think gaming will eventually get off the ground, but I just think that gaming could be substantially delayed if we can't get these regulations in place," Decker told reporters after a board meeting in the Capitol on Thursday.

The disagreement between two board members – one Democrat and one Republican appointee – is now a year old. Each man's stance reflects that of the lawmaker who picked him and the fight could wind up reopening old, partisan wounds over gambling in the Legislature.

The gaming board is under pressure to approve regulations for distributors because its two-year exemption from the normal state review process expires on July 5. If it fails to act by then, Decker says the process could take another year or more.

By law, the gaming board must approve distributor licenses 90 days before it can license any slots parlor.

Deckers acknowledged that the gaming board could approve the distributor licenses – and at least start the countdown to licensing slots parlors – before it approves the distributor regulations. But, he said, "I don't think it's the right way to do it."

The political considerations surrounding the opening of slots parlors are great, since lawmakers this week earmarked one-third of the anticipated gambling revenue for tax cuts for millions of Pennsylvania homeowners.

Ultimately, the gaming board is charged with issuing licenses for 14 slots parlors and a maximum of 61,000 slot machines with the intention of creating a $3 billion gambling market.

The overarching dispute over distributors began when lawmakers negotiated the original legislation to legalize slot machines in 2004.

Democrats prevailed, getting a provision in the law that requires manufacturers to sell their slot machines to Pennsylvania casinos through in-state middlemen as a way to maximize job opportunities.

When the gaming board began to write regulations governing the distributors last year, Jeffrey W. Coy, a former legislator appointed to the board by House Minority Leader H. William DeWeese, D-Greene, insisted on creating regions in which distributors may operate. Coy says a regional approach will make it easier for smaller businesses to participate.

Republicans regarded the supplier requirement as an unnecessary intrusion into the business world, and accused Democrats of trying to set up insiders to profit from the gambling industry. Board member Kenneth McCabe, appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer, R-Blair, contends Coy's proposal is not authorized by the law and is therefore illegal.

In recent months, more than 20 groups have applied for licenses to do business as distributors. Among the investors leading some of the groups are one of Harrisburg's best-known lobbyists, Stephen Wojdak; the former chief executive of Allegheny County, Jim Roddey; and the state's former lieutenant governor, Mark Singel.

In recent weeks, Decker has asked the Legislature for help, such as extending the board's exemption from the standard review process. But any help could mean another political battle.

Mike Manzo, DeWeese's chief of staff, said Decker should look to his fellow gaming board members, not lawmakers, to resolve the dispute.

Aides to Senate Republicans said legislators are likely to be receptive to Decker's request. Stephen C. MacNett, the top lawyer for Senate Republicans, said GOP legislators may try to remove the entire distributor requirement from the law.

"I think that will be debated," MacNett said, "and depending on your point of view, be decided or redecided."

Everything and everyone have been moved to the new facility, The Paddock Club. Demolition of the old grandstand has begun and is projected to be completed by the end of June. All racing is now being done from The Paddock Club and will continue in this manner until the new facility is up and operational.

As of the last printing of The Horsemen’s Journal, we congratulated John Zimmerman as being the leading trainer for 2005. At this printing, we wish to say goodbye to our friend and colleague John Zimmerman, who passed away at the age of 46.

John trained horses at Gulfstream, Laurel, Pimlico and Delaware. He saddled Procreate to a world-record performance in the Yankee Affair Stakes just last year. John was survived by his daughter, Mallory, and his sons, Matt and Brett.

We also sadly say goodbye to Dennis Madonna. Dennis had recently purchased Regal Heir Farms and two others to pursue his dream of raising Thoroughbreds. Dennis had become involved in the horse business through his father. He was tragically killed in a helicopter crash near his home. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, and three children, Devin, Corinne and Elysse.

These men have impacted many lives, both personally and professionally, and will be dearly missed.

As many of you know, the slots were supposed to be here by now, but we are still waiting. When the gaming bill was passed, Penn National Gaming forwarded the horsemen $4 million to increase the purses until slots were up and running. Due to the delay in the implementation of the gaming licenses, and hence the slots, we have reached the maximum limit of our overpayment, according to our contract. To keep the purse structure as close to the current levels as possible, the Pennsylvania HBPA and Penn National management have mutually agreed to go to three days of racing a week. Racing will occur on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with a 6:45 first post time, beginning May 30. There will be a 30-day review of this change.

The Pennsylvania HBPA would like to announce the upcoming election and the election schedule. A new board will be installed by November of 2006.

A nomination committee has been appointed by the president, John Wames. The committee consists of Ken Bowman (chairman), Thomas McClay and James McGuire. Nominations for the board can be made by calling the HBPA office at (717) 469-2970.

There will be a General Membership Nominating Meeting on August 19. The ballots will be mailed on October 2, and the new board will be named by November.

If you are interested in this undertaking, please contact the HBPA office. Remember, it is a three-year commitment to serve all horsemen.

Posted: 5/19/06

Penn National Race Course received approval from the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission to begin running a revised racing schedule beginning May 30.

The new schedule reduces live racing from four to three days per week at the Grantville, Pennsylvania, track, which was originally scheduled to run a 227-day meet from January 4 to December 30. Live racing will now be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

First post time has also been moved up to 6:45 EDT from 7:25 p.m. The revised schedule also includes a fall break from September 1-18.

The changes were made in response to regulatory processes that have delayed construction of a slots facility at the track, which will include 2,000 machines. The track previously supplemented purses through April 1 with a $4-million advance that has been exhausted.

Simulcasting continues to be offered daily from noon to midnight.

Posted: 5/12/06

While Penn National Race Course remains mired in the regulatory process toward acquiring a license to operate 2,000 slot machines that will benefit purses, track officials and horsemen have agreed to a reduced number of race days each week in order to maintain current purse levels.

Pending approval from Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, the racing schedule will be reduced from four to three live nine-race programs each week, to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. First race post time has also been changed, from 7:25 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. EDT. The changes are to take effect May 30.

The track currently runs a Wednesdays through Saturdays schedule, and picks up a fifth day--Sundays--in July. How the proposed date changes might affect the schedule further this summer is not clear. Penn National Racing Secretary Paul Jenkins did not immediatley return a phone call seeking comment.

As part of a purse contract between the local chapter of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and Penn National that became effective in October 2004, the track advanced $4-million to supplement purses through April 1 this year. The funds are now exhausted, the track said in a press release.

While the Grantville track had hoped its slots facility would be near completion or operational during the second quarter this year, regulatory procedures have been tediously slow. Slots licenses for Penn National and other racetracks in the state are not expected to be issued until later this year.

Penn National was granted 227 racing dates, from January 4 through December 30, for this year. Through the first 55 days, the average daily purse distribution was $75,923, down 4% for the same period last year. The average purse was $8,645.

The track plans to begin construction on the slots facility as soon as it is granted a license. Construction is expected to take 12 to 14 months.

Full-card simulcasting at the track will continue to be offered daily from noon until midnight.

Date Posted: 4/25/2006 11:05:30 AM Last Updated: 4/25/2006 12:11:44 PM

Penn National Gaming officials reported substantial gains for the first quarter ending March 31, 2006. The Pennsylvania-based racetrack and casino company showed a 128% rise in post-EBITDA earnings, reporting $164.8 million for the period.

Commenting to investors and media in an April 25 teleconference, chairman and chief executive officer Peter M. Carlino said, "This was a great quarter; one we were all very pleased with. I think this speaks for itself."

In all, the owner of Charles Town Races and Slots in Charles Town, W.V., and Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Penn., showed first-quarter revenues of $569.2 million before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, surpassing the "financial guidance" forecast issued during the fourth quarter last year calling for $551.1 billion.

Also for the period, Penn National Gaming reported stock compensation and extinguishment of debt as having the net effect of reducing both diluted earnings per share from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share by $0.11.

Carlino cited the "strong impact" of the company's October 2005 acquisition of the mid-western casino company Argosy Gaming as a contributing factor for the positive performance.

With that reported $2.2-billion buy-out, Penn National Gaming's estimated annual revenues of $2.18 billion ranks them as gambling's third-largest casino operator, trailing only the merged Harrah's Entertainment-Caesars Entertainment and the combined MGM Mirage-Mandalay Resort Group.

Chief financial officer William Clifford said an unusually mild winter and a large spike in attendance at the company's Casino Rouge in Baton Rouge, La., with the influx of displaced New Orleans residents were also positive but "unsustainable" trends that would level off in the coming quarters.

Officials said the two casinos damaged by Hurricane Katrina last summer--Boomtown Biloxi and Casino Magic-Bay St. Louis--would return to operation as soon as possible.

Charles Town Races and Slots, the company's largest operation, accounted for $116.9 million in earnings, compared to the $103.2 posted for the same first quarter of 2005. Racing operations in Pennsylvania and Ohio accounted for $13.1 million and $2 million respectively.

Carlino said the company had a "high desire" to seek entrance into the competitive markets of Atlantic City and Las Vegas in the near future and, with ownership of Raceway Park in Ohio as of this year, would spend "significant" funds to provide support for a voter referendum on the November ballot that would authorize up to 5,000 slot machines at each of Ohio's seven racetracks.

"Penn National started 2006 with exceptional operating results and based on the continued positive trends at our properties and diversified, staggered development pipeline, we are confident in our growth prospects not only for the remainder of 2006 but for several years to come," the CEO said.

The company reported cash balances on hand of $138.1 million and debts totaling $2.75 billion.

Copyright © 2006 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Date Posted: 4/24/2006 12:05:55 PM Last Updated: 4/24/2006 12:07:43 PM

Regal Heir Farms, Inc., will continue operating under family ownership despite the loss of owners Dennis Madonna and J. Bradley Jones, who died in helicopter accident April 20. Animal care and breeding programs continue to operate normally for customers.

"Our families are deeply saddened by the loss of Dennis and Brad," said William Mulligan, a spokesperson for the family. "Their passion for our business helped make Regal Heir Farms one of the nation's premier thoroughbred horse farms. We plan to uphold their dedication to customers and their passion for the industry."

Founded in 1969, Regal Heir Farms is one of Pennsylvania's largest thoroughbred horse farms. Located in the beautiful rolling hills of Lebanon County, Pa., the organization offers a foaling barn, three stables, a receiving barn, an exercise ring and other facilities that are within easy access of the Penn National Racetrack. The farm features 232 acres of pastures and paddocks, with 160 horse stalls. Regal Heir Farms is home to numerous stallions, such as Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) winner Real Quiet.

Copyright © 2006 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Date Posted: 4/21/2006 12:46:16 PM Last Updated: 4/21/2006 3:05:48 PM

Two owners of one of the Pennsylvnia's largest Thoroughbred farms died in a helicopter crash in central Pennsylvania as they sought to land on the farm.

Dennis G. Madonna, 48, and J. Bradley Jones, 67, co-owners of Regal Heir Farms, were killed instantly in the crash, state police said Friday.

Madonna, of Grantville, and Jones, of Pottstown, had purchased the horse farm last year, according to the farm's Web site. The 232-acre farm is home to Real Quiet, winner of the 1998 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I).

Witnesses said the crash Thursday afternoon occurred after the helicopter went out of control.

"He flew over my front yard and it looked like he was going to land in my side yard," said Martha Zellers, who was on her front porch, less than a half-mile from the scene. "He was, like, hovered there at the trees. I thought he was going to land in the grass and all of a sudden he just went and did a nose dive."

Zellers, 59, said she heard a noise - "like, 'Poof!'" - then saw a puff of black smoke arise from the wreckage.

Another neighbor, Angela Hook, said she was in her front yard when the helicopter "flipped around," making her family concerned it might crash into their house or yard.

"Once it hit, we (saw) nothing but black smoke," she said. "It was orange all throughout the sky."

The accident occurred about two miles from Penn National Race Course.

After Jones and Madonna purchased Regal Heir Farms last year, they added acreage and stalls.

The farm was formerly known as Reigle Heir Farms, named after its previous owners, Tom and Ann Reigle.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

Copyright © 2006 Associated Press.

Date Posted: 4/7/2006 1:22:57 PM Last Updated: 4/7/2006 1:32:43 PM

The grandstand/clubhouse facility at Penn National Race Course is in the final days of its almost 34-year history. Racing fans with a fondness for the track with a mountain view are expected to make the trip for the final two nights of racing.

The April 8 program will be the last at the existing Grantville, Pa., facility, which will be demolished to make way for an integrated racetrack and slot-machine complex when track owner Penn National Gaming Inc. is licensed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Penn National opened Aug. 30, 1972, at its current location just off Interstate 81 northeast of Harrisburg.

"Hopefully, we'll move on to a new era," said publicity director Fred Lipkin, who has worked at Penn National since 1973. "The company is committed to making it an integrated facility."

Afer the April 8 program, live racing will take a hiatus until April 26. Full-card simulcasts will be available in the upper clubhouse until April 15, then move to the new Paddock Club April 19. The club, which will offer no view of live racing, was built to house simulcast operations while the five-story, 365,000-square-foot racino is constructed.

During the downtime for live racing, the dirt track will be stripped to the base and reconstructed. Penn National also has a turf course that will be used for racing later this spring.

It remains to be seen when construction will begin because the slots license has not yet been granted, but when it does commence, the project is expected to take 12-14 months. So it's conceivable the temporary facility will be necessary through 2007.

Lipkin said the Paddock Club is patterned after one of the company's off-track wagering facilities in Pennsylvania and can accommodate about 900 people. He said track officials held meetings to plan for events such as Kentucky Derby (gr. I) day, when the track attracts about 4,000 people.

"We understand problems may be encountered," said Lipkin, who noted Penn National will open the Paddock Club at 9 a.m. Derby morning, offer day-before betting on the Derby, put betting windows in the parking lot, and direct patrons to nearby OTB parlors or to use the track's account wagering system.

Admission to the Paddock Club will be free and open only to those 18 years of age and older.

PNGI officials April 6 outlined plans for their Hollywood Casino at Grantville during a gaming control board hearing in Harrisburg. The Patriot-News of Harrisburg reported only one person spoke against the plan for the $262-million racino.

When slots revenue is finally realized, purses are expected to about triple from their current daily average of about $65,000 a day.

Copyright © 2006 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Date Posted: 4/5/2006 11:43:39 AM Last Updated: 4/5/2006 11:43:39 AM

A second group has announced plans to seek a constitutional amendment to place a vote on video slots at racetracks in Ohio on the November ballot.

Penn National Gaming Inc., which had revenues of $2 billion last year, announced Tuesday it wants to put up to 5,000 slot machines at each of the state's seven tracks.

Ohio has three Thoroughbred tracks at Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati and harness tracks at Lebanon, Northfield, Columbus and Toledo.

A group known as the "Ohio Legacy Committee" announced in March it would seek a proposed amendment allowing slots at the state's seven race tracks and two free-standing slot machine casinos in Cleveland and one in Cincinnati.

Under the "Ohio Legacy" proposal, areas with slot machines would be allowed to vote on casino gambling in four years.

Penn National also owns the Argosy riverboat casino in Lawrenceburg, Ind., a short distance from Cincinnati and some statehouse observers feel their proposal is an attempt to keep casino gambling out of Cincinnati.

"I don't want to attack that group," said David Hopcraft, spokesman for Ohio Legacy. "We'll let the voters decide in August. To me if you look at a map it is pretty obvious what their motives are. But I'm not going to get into a debate over it."

The Penn National group said it had earmarked 32% of its revenues from the slots for education while Ohio Legacy has pledged 30% for education.

A spokesman for the secretary of state's office said if each group ends up with the 320,000 signatures necessary, then the one with highest number would be put on the ballot.

Andrew Flowers, a Columbus attorney and spokesman for Penn National group said the company started the petition drive because it felt the Oho Legacy proposal would fail.

"We think this more moderate approach will be more popular with the voters," Flowers said.

Copyright © 2006 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Posted: 3/31/06

Thoroughbred racetracks in Pennsylvania are gearing up for massive construction projects as the state inches toward granting them licenses to take bets through slot machines.

Penn National Race Course in Grantville plans to tear down its 33-year-old grandstand this month, shortly after closing the track to live racing for a two-week period beginning April 8. Philadelphia Park in Bensalem, meanwhile, is beginning to renovate its grandstand as it prepares to install as many as 1,250 slot machines on its first floor later this year while going forward with a 300,000-square-foot casino located elsewhere on the property.

The construction projects are taking place nearly two years after slot machines were legalized at 14 sites in Pennsylvania, including eight racetracks. Since then, the process to award licenses to the sites has been slow, deliberate, and political, as legislators work out rules under which the machines will be operated.

Penn National plans to build an entirely new grandstand and casino in a 365,000-square-foot building that will be located on the site of the old grandstand. Although the current building will be demolished shortly after the track closes temporarily on April 8, the reconstruction project will not begin until the track receives a conditional license to operate slot machines later this year, according to Penn officials.

Penn's grandstand will be closed after the live racing card on April 8. The track will then go on hiatus for two weeks in order to relocate its racing office, jockeys' quarters, and administrative offices into trailers on the property, according to Fred Lipkin, a spokesman for Penn.

Live racing is scheduled to resume on April 26. On that date, Penn National will open an offtrack betting facility on the property for customers, although bettors will be unable to go outside to watch any live races.

Lipkin also said that the track plans to renovate the base of its racing surface during the two-week break in April. Penn National's track has been the source of complaints from some trainers and jockeys over the past six months.

"It's a good time to do it, obviously," Lipkin said.

At Philadelphia Park, the track is preparing to move its racing operations to the third floor of the grandstand, according to Bill Hogwood, the chief operating officer of the track. The first floor, which was renovated seven years ago, will be converted into a temporary casino so that the track can begin taking slot machine bets as soon as a conditional license is granted, Hogwood said.

Separately, Philadelphia plans to build a free-standing casino on its 450-acre property, with the hopes that it will be operational by the end of 2007, Hogwood said. The track also plans to build a hotel and convention center in the future.

Initial public hearings for the slot licenses are scheduled for the beginning of April. In Harrisburg, a hearing to discuss Penn National's license will be held April 6, and a hearing to discuss Philadelphia Park's license is scheduled for

April 10 at nearby Drexel University. Officials of the tracks said they expected conditional licenses to be awarded by the end of the summer.

Posted: 3/13/06

Beginning Wednesday, Penn National Race Course will accept entries from horses stabled at Laurel Park, Pimlico, and the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, ending a ban on Maryland shippers in effect since late January.

Horses from Maryland will be permitted into the Penn National barn area as of midnight Thursday. The track had imposed a ban on Maryland-based horses because of an outbreak, since contained, of equine herpesvirus.

All horses shipping to Penn National must present a health certificate issued within 48 hours of arrival stating that the animal has not been exposed to the virus or has shown signs of it within three weeks.

Posted: 3/9/2006 5:56:00 AM

Stakes winner Senor Cielo Two has been named Pennsylvania's horse of the year for 2005.

Senor Cielo Two, a son of Partner's Hero, won eight of 18 starts and earned $183,785 while being claimed four times in 2005. Seven of his wins came at Philadelphia Park, including the restricted Devil's Honor Handicap on July 23.

Other divisional champions include Sky Valley Road (Zamindar), two-year-old male; Smart and Fancy (Not For Love), two-year-old filly; North Potomac (Not For Love) three-year-old male; Miss Start Me Up (Evening Kris), three-year-old filly; Banjo Picker (Swear by Dixie), older male; Valley of the Gods (Valley Crossing ), older female; and Max West (West by West), outstanding claim of the year.

Individual award winners were Joanne McDaid, apprentice jockey; Harry Vega, leading jockey; Robert Seeger's Plumstead Stables, leading owner; Scott Lake, leading trainer; Robert Reid Jr., top percentage trainer with less than 150 starters; and Silver Rod Stables Inc., top percentage owner with less than 150 starters.

As you have heard, Penn National has been in quarantine since January 22. It is hoped that by the time you receive this magazine, the quarantine will have been lifted. The quarantine was due to the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), which is highly contagious and can result in the euthanasia of the affected animal. It can also be passed from horse to horse, or humans can carry it from horse to horse. It is hoped that by sharing this story, it will enlighten some of those in the equine business and give them information that could be life saving. Now, here is the rest of the story:

Trainer Todd Beattie shipped West End Lady to Laurel to run on January 2, and by January 17, he noticed that she was off her feed and was showing some neurological signs. By the time West End Lady showed her neurological signs, there had already been confirmed reports of a horse at Pimlico that had the EHV-1 virus and had to be euthanized. It was also discovered that West End Lady had been stabled beside him in the receiving barn when she had shipped in to run.

Todd then made some critical executive decisions. He immediately laid off his exercise riders and the employee that worked on the starting gate and kept a skeleton crew to care for the 44 head of horses. He sent his wife, Sandee, home so she could be the sole caretaker of the stock on their farm. All training ceased, and the horses were confined to the barn with limited exercise in shifts.

Disinfectant baths were placed at the exits of the barn, traffic in and out of the barn was halted, and everything possible was disinfected. Daily temperatures were taken of all the horses in the barn.

Beattie shipped all of the livestock at Sandee’s old farm to his farm and then transported West End Lady to the vacant farm so that she would have no further contact with the equine population. This removed West End Lady from the grounds and limited the exposure of the other horses in his care.

West End Lady was tested by blood test, and the test was shipped overnight to Kentucky. The blood test was sent directly to Dr. Greg Allen at the Gluck Equine Research Center in Kentucky. The test returned on January 20 with a positive result for EHV-1.

Beattie’s choices then included testing all 44 head or spending the money to purchase the drug Acyclovir, which is the only medication available for this virus. The medication works to slow the reproduction of the virus, hence allowing the immune system time to build up and help to fight the virus. The purchase of this medication was about $75.00 per horse. Todd was able to purchase the medication through the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, and boy did he look funny purchasing all of that herpes medication!

This medication had to be given every six hours around the clock for five days to be effective. This involved Todd medicating the horses at midnight to ensure the maximum affect of the medication.

It started off as a difficult task since not all of the horses will eat feed once medication is added and, in order to dose all the horses, that would have meant separate dose syringes and washing/disinfecting between each horse so that Todd would not be the vector and spread the virus.

After the second day, and with the rations cut back due to lack of training, the horses were more than happy to eat the medication-laced feed in the small quantity four times per day. This made medicating all of them much easier, and there was less horse to human to horse contact.

As of this printing, West End Lady has improved significantly and has been eating. Todd has had no other horses spike a temperature or show neurological signs. Since no other horses have shown neurological signs, the quarantine for Todd’s barn was lifted on February 12, enabling him to train his horses with the general population again.

Now you have read the rest of the story.

With the construction and getting ready to move, many of the offices and the jockey’s room have been packing up to move. If your silks have not been used in the last year, we are asking that you make arrangements to pick them up. You can get your silks at the HBPA offices. Thanks for your prompt attention to this matter.

As of the submission of this article, Penn National still remains under a general quarantine since January 22. Horses are allowed to ship off the grounds, but no horses are permitted to enter the grounds. Entries for the racing programs are only taken from the population of horses stabled on the grounds. The duration of this quarantine is dependent upon outside variables.

Construction has begun on the temporary facility. This facility includes a temporary paddock, test barn, racing offices, and betting facility. Construction has been ongoing, around the clock. At times, this has involved a change in the training schedule for the horsemen. Flexibility and patience will be needed by all during this 14-month construction project.

As you also may have remembered, the Penn National track was closed two different times in December. Both closings were due to concerns regarding the racing surface. Both times, the surface was peeled back at several places and the base was checked. At spots, more material was added to the base and the surface put back down. It was observed that although the base is worn, it is evenly worn. It is hoped that when warm weather arrives, management will address this situation again.

We would like to congratulate Cleon and Dottie Cassel, who bred and own R. Earl. He was voted Penn National’s Horse of the Year for 2005. He showed his versatility by winning on the dirt or turf. He won the Capital City Handicap on September 2, putting his record at four wins from seven starts.

R. Earl is trained by Timothy Shea. R. Earl is named after Mr. Cassel’s father, R. Earl Cassel. Although his father passed away several years ago, it seems that there may be some divine intervention or higher power involved.

We would also like to congratulate the most winning trainers of the 2005 racing season. Trainer John Zimmerman topped the list with 110 wins from 389 starts and a 28% win percentage. Bruce Kravets was second with 96 wins, and David Giest was third with 75 wins. Also, congratulations to the leading owner for the 2005 season, J Jeps Stable.

Date Posted: 3/7/2006 4:12:15 PM Last Updated: 3/7/2006 4:19:47 PM

It has been almost two years since Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and slot machines were legalized in Pennsylvania. And while the horse has begun his career at stud, racetracks are still waiting for slots and may encounter some challenges when they finally get them.

Legislation to authorize slots at racetracks and several non-track locations in the Keystone State was signed into law in early July 2004. But during the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress March 6-7 in the state capital of Harrisburg, officials said the devices won't be operating until this fall--at the earliest.

"It has been a 10-year struggle for me," said Sen. Robert "Tommy" Tomlinson, whose district includes Philadelphia Park in Bucks County. "(When riverboat gambling was being considered), I said, 'Why can't we do something at the racetracks?' The racetrack has been very important to my community. And then a little horse named Smarty Jones came along and made gaming very popular."

Smarty Jones, a Pennsylvania-bred by Elusive Quality that was based at Philly Park, won the Derby two months before the slots bill became law. Though he eventually lost his chance at a Triple Crown, his exploits are believed by some to have invigorated the racetrack slots debate in Pennsylvania.

Existing tracks in the state have begun preparations for gaming, and the state anxiously awaits about $1 billion a year in property-tax relief. But a court challenge to the slots law cost the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board about six months worth of work, so the first Class 1 licenses, primarily for the tracks, won't be granted until September at the earliest, said Mary DiGiacomo Colins, a gaming control board commissioner.

A big hang-up has been regulations regarding the companies that will supply slot machines to various outlets in the state.

"We are on a fast but steady track to bring gaming to Pennsylvania," DiGiacomo said.

Though it won't stop slots parlors from opening, officials indicated the state's tax rate of 55% could serve as a deterrent to capital investment. The watchword of the gaming congress was "convenience gaming"--officials believe the Pennsylvania slots parlors will cater mainly to locals and won't prove much of a threat to established full casino gambling in New Jersey and Connecticut.

A group of Wall Street analysts all agree gross revenue, when all the parlors are built out, will total $2.5 billion to $3 billion a year in the state. Some of the Pennsylvania developers, such as Harrah's Entertainment, also have casinos in Atlantic City, N.J., where the tax rate is 9.25%.

"If you owned a business and had two outlets, and one outlet keeps 90% of revenue and the other one 50% of revenue, where would you spend your resources?" said Andrew Zarnett, the gaming, lodging, and leisure high-yield analyst for Deutsche Bank.

Still, the Pennsylvania tax rate isn't the highest in the country for gaming, and analysts predicted Pennsylvania would hold its own, even against New York, where racinos are planned Aqueduct and Yonkers Raceway in the New York City metropolitan area, and upstate New York at Tioga Park near the Pennsylvania border.

"New York has a 69% tax rate--I don't think that's a threat at all," said Aimee Marcel, vice president in the equity research department at Jefferies & Co. "People would rather go to Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods (in neighboring Connecticut)."

"What's proposed in New York is not competitive," said Eric Hausler, a managing director for Bear Stearns.

(For comparative purposes, racetrack casino legislation in Kentucky calls for a state tax rate of 35% of adjusted gross revenue. Track operators would get more than 49%.)

Track operators believe they can find a niche, be it serving mostly locals or tourists. Racinos in Pennsylvania must compete with non-track slots parlors in major cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

John Finamore, senior vice president of regional operations for Penn National Gaming Inc., said the company would build on its experience at Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia when it comes to Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg.

"We're going to raze the existing grandstand and start from scratch," Finamore said. "I think we learned some lessons from Charles Town (where the existing facility was initially renovated). We want to develop a fully integrated racing and gaming operation."

Penn National will close its grandstand and move all simulcast and live racing operations into a temporary facility on the property during construction beginning in April.

MTR Gaming Group, which owns Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in West Virginia, will build a racino in Erie, which hasn't had live racing since the 1980s. Edson "Ted" Arneault, chief executive officer of MTR Gaming, said Presque Isle Downs also would be an "integrated" facility.

"That design came about just from the experience of running a racetrack that's separate from the major part of the gaming facility (at Mountaineer)," Arneault said. "A lot more creativity had to come in for use of space."

Arneault said he believes Presque Isle Downs can benefit from cross-promotion with Mountaineer as the facilities are located less than three hours apart. He also said Erie is ripe for tourism development, and that could benefit the new track. Arneault, however, expressed concern about another challenge as more and more tracks in the area get gaming and greatly increase purses.

"You're going to see a compelling argument coming from the horse side with all these different facilities," Arneault said. "Will there be an adequate number of racehorses, and can we put on a good show? The (slots) market will regulate itself. My fear truly is on the racing side. We have to make sure we have an adequate supply of good horses to put on a great show."

Arneault later said Mountaineer, with 1,200 stalls and a year-round racing program, has a "feeding program" for Presque Isle Downs, scheduled to open in September 2007. The track eventually will race from June through September.

"We have a group of horsemen committed to bringing horses to Erie," he said. "Without Mountaineer, I don't think Erie could be successful. (Director of racing) Rose Mary Williams has a great reach-out to the horse community. We're lucky. I wouldn't want to have the (Erie) track and not have Mountaineer."

Track operators also said they're seeing some cross-over play--slots to horses and horses to slots--at their existing racinos. Finamore said about 40% of the customers in the dining room that overlooks the racetrack at Charles Town are slots players, and they're becoming more comfortable playing horses, even if on a limited scale.

Posted: 3/7/2006 11:56:00 AM

Penn National Gaming Inc., which owns Penn National Race Course and Charles Town Races, has reached an agreement with the Illinois Gaming Board to retain the Argosy Casino in Alton—a property it was to sell as a condition of acquiring Argosy Gaming Co.

Penn National operates casinos in the state--in Alton, Joliet, and Aurora.

Penn National's agreement with the board also includes a provision to extend the time the gaming company has to sell the Empress Casino in Joliet from December 31, 2006, to June 30, 2008. The Illinois Gaming Board had said in September 2005 that Penn National must divest the two properties within 15 months as a condition of its Argosy acquisition.

"They (Penn National) told the board they'd had a hard time selling the property (at Alton)," because potential buyers were aware the company was under official pressure to sell, Gene O'Shea, a spokesman for the gaming board, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "They were having a difficult time getting a fair price."

Casinos in Illinois have had a negative impact on the state's horse racing industry. However, a bill currently in committee in the Illinois House of Representative would give a major boost Illinios racing by sending 3% of the adjusted gross receipts from Illinois's casino riverboats to tracks and horsemen.

Posted: 3/4/06

Penn National Race Course will shut down the 33-year-old building that houses its grandstand and clubhouse, and temporarily halt live racing next month as the first step toward preparing for the eventual arrival of slot machines.

There will be no live racing at the Grantville, Pa., track from April 9 through April 25. Live racing is scheduled to resume on Wednesday, April 26.

Once the main building is closed following full-card simulcasting on April 15, Penn National will move its Thoroughbred racing operations to a new Paddock Club, located just north of the current facility, close to the chute for 1 1/4-mile races.

The 24,000-square foot Paddock Club, with a capacity of about 900 patrons, will essentially serve as a simulcast betting facility with free admission. Fans will be able to watch Penn National's races on 250 television screens, but cannot go outside to watch the live races. The Paddock Club will open for simulcasting on April 19.

Penn National Gaming Inc. filed an application last December with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for approval of a license to construct and operate an integrated gaming and racing facility on the site of the existing grandstand and clubhouse. The company intends to begin construction of a new, $240 million, 365,000-square foot property immediately upon being licensed, which could occur in August. Construction is expected to take 12 to 14 months, which puts the timeframe for slots to begin operating sometime in the fall of 2007.

Date Posted: 2/28/2006 8:23:46 AM Last Updated: 2/28/2006 8:23:46 AM

Penn National Race Course officials said they would lift the quarantine imposed on its backstretch due to equine herpesvirus March 7 provided no further cases of the virus are reported in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The Grantville, Pa., facility barred horses from other tracks Jan. 23. One horse tested positive for equine herpesvirus at Penn National, but racing secretary Paul Jenkins credited the quick work of trainer Todd Beattie from preventing the virus from spreading to the general horse population.

West End Lady, a mare trained by Beattie that raced at Laurel Park in Maryland and then was returned to her barn at Penn National Jan. 2, was confirmed positive for the virus Jan. 20. The mare was moved off the grounds of the racetrack, and Jenkins said Beattie took "extraordinary" steps to disinfect his barn and equipment.

Penn National will require a health certificate issued within the last 48 hours for horses shipped in to race or to stable. The health certificate must have the following statement: "Horses represented on this certificate of veterinary inspection have not originated from, nor been stabled on, a premises exposed to a confirmed case of equine herpesvirus, nor have show signs suggestive of these diseases, nor have exhibited a fever within the previous three weeks."

Jenkins will also require horsemen who are requesting permission to ship into the barn area to secure written permission from him.

At Philadelphia Park, director of racing Sal Sinatra has also set March 7 as the date for lifting its backstretch quarantine. Philly Park's quarantine was imposed Jan. 24.

Sinatra said he also would require a health certificate from ship-ins, and is also requiring that each horse on the grounds of the Bensalem, Pa., track be inoculated with an equine herpesvirus preventative vaccine.

There were no reported positive cases of equine herpesvirus at Philadelphia Park.

Copyright © 2006 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Posted: 2/15/2006 10:56:00 AM

Penn National Gaming Inc., which operates Penn National Race Course and Charles Town Races, reported net income of $120.9-million in 2005, a 69.1% increase from when it earned $71.5-million in '04.

The increase came following a strong fourth quarter—the first full quarter since Penn National's acquisition of Argosy Casino properties—in which the Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, company earned $37.6-million, up 122.4% from the corresponding quarter last year despite charges related to the after effects of Hurricane Katrina. Due to the storm, business at the company's two Mississippi casinos was disrupted and they are not expected to reopen until later this year. Thus, results for the fourth quarter last year include one-time charges of three cents per share.

Revenues during the fourth quarter increased 89.6% from $276.5-million last year to $524.4-million. Those fourth quarter revenues accounted for more than a third of the record $1,412,500,000 revenues reported for 2005, a 23.9% increase from the $1,139,900,000 in revenues from '04.

Penn National's two racing properties—its flagship operation in Grantville and Charles Town Races in Charles Town, West Virginia—showed mixed results for the year's final quarter. Revenues at Charles Town increased 6.2% to $106,275,000 while that racino's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased 5% to $30,957,000.

"Through phased expansions, we continue to build and develop Charles Town Races," Penn National Chief Executive Officer Peter Carlino said. "Fourth-quarter 2005 results reflect the temporary removal of about 300 slot machines to accommodate the current expansion of the property, which includes a 400-seat buffet and a doubling of the parking garage to 5,000 spaces, both of which are on schedule for completion in the third quarter this year and the first quarter of 2007, respectively."

Penn National was one of three individually listed properties to have negative EBITDA, as a 7.7% decrease in revenues to $12,027,000 led to a $449,000 EBITDA loss.

Penn National also plans an expansion of Penn National Race Course with a new Hollywood Casino that will be sized for 3,000 slot machines.

Date Posted: 2/7/2006 11:56:16 AM Last Updated: 2/7/2006 11:56:16 AM

While no new cases of the Equineherpes Virus (EHV-1) have been diagnosed at Penn National Race Course since a horse trained by Todd Beattie tested positive Jan. 20, the stablegate remains closed to outside horses.

"As of today, we're still in a shutdown," said Paul Jenkins, racing secretary of the Grantville, Pa. oval. "We're in the process of trying to figure out where we're going. I don't know if we're confident that Maryland is out of the woods yet or if the virus has run its course."

Jenkins said the horse that tested positive at Penn National, West End Lady, is doing well and did not have to be euthanized. She had raced at Laurel Park in early January and then was returned to her barn at Penn National, where she began displaying symptoms of the virus.

"We were very fortunate in that Todd (Beattie) acted immediately and took every single precaution you can possibly take," said Jenkins. "It minimized the effect that it had on our general horse population."

Jenkins said that despite the loss of about 20 shippers per night, he has had no trouble filling cards since the ban on outside horses was announced Jan. 22.

Copyright © 2006 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Posted: 2/3/2006 5:16:00 PM

United Tote has reached a multiyear agreement with Penn National Gaming Inc. to provide the central wagering system for the various tracks and facilities owned by the company.

United Tote will provide its services for Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania, Charles Town Races in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, as well as six off-track facilities in Pennsylvania. United Tote will replace Scientific Games at Penn National's Thoroughbred tracks and off-track facilities.

United Tote will make its FastBet cashless wagering cards and its touch screen terminals available at the facilities.

"United Tote is the technology provider for many of the premier racing facilities in the world. These customers understand what's needed to succeed in today's technology driven business climate," said Joe Tracy, chief executive at United Tote.

Posted: 1/17/06

Penn National Race Course purchased a new policy increasing its coverage limit for on-track accident insurance for jockeys to $1-million. The coverage became effective on January 1.

The previous limit was $100,000, track spokesman Fred Lipkin said.

"With the new policy limit of $1-million, Penn National Race Course is pleased to be able to do their part to help ensure than in the event of an accident, there is adequate insurance to address the injured jockey's needs," the track stated in a press release.

Posted: 1/10/06

Pennsylvania's Thoroughbred industry received a boost last month when Governor Ed Rendell signed into a bill that protects horse owners of all breeds and event sponsors from liability in the event of a no-fault injury.

The bill's supporters view the new law as a way to help create a competitive insurance market with improved access to horses plus an increased appeal to join the horse industry due to less risk.

Senator Michael Waugh (R-York) sponsored the bill, which Rendell ceremonially signed on Tuesday at the 90th Pennsylvania Farm Show. The measure takes effect on February 23.

"The horse industry has been a tremendous economic force in Pennsylvania's economy," Governor Rendell said. "From the most prestigious equestrian events to breeding farms, the industry that helped build this state and country and provided the first means of transportation and labor deserves the protection of the measure I have signed into law."

According to the Pennsylvania Equine Council, the basis for the bill is the legal doctrine known as "assumption of risk," in which a plaintiff is not entitled to damages if knowing of a dangerous condition, he or she voluntarily exposed himself or herself to the risk that resulted in injury.

Forty-four other states already have Equine Activity Liability acts.

Posted: 1/10/06

Live racing at Penn National Race Course has been canceled from Wednesday through Saturday so that concerns about the track's surface can be addressed.

The track was closed after jockeys rode the first two races on the January 7 card and then left without notifying track officials. The jockeys also did not ride the previous day.

"Weather-related cancellations are an inconvenience to our fans, the horsemen, and our employees," Penn National General Manager Gary Luderitz said. "That being said, they are also part of the business and can be understood when they are handled in a professional manner. What happened here last Saturday night is not acceptable.''

Jockeys expressed concerns toward the end of last year after reconstructive work was done on part of the track's base at the head of the stretch.

The track conducted racing on January 4-5. Although there was no change in the weather, the jockeys did not ride the following day.

Luderitz told officials with the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association on Monday that the track would be closed this week. Former track superintendent Jay Fortney, a consultant at Charles Town Races, will help track personnel in their efforts to identity and resolve, if necessary, problem areas on the track.

Posted: 12/29/2005 5:09:00 PM ET

About two dozen applications arrived at the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s office on Wednesday, the deadline by which all license applications for Pennsylvania’s 14 slots licenses had to be postmarked in order to be considered by the seven-member board.

The decisions on who gets the stand-alone and resort hotel casino licenses probably will not be made by the gaming board until late 2006. The board plans to conduct public hearings in each of the proposed casino locations before making a decision.

Seven slots licenses will eventually be issued to existing or proposed racetracks, probably by late summer.

Four of the new casinos will be at Standardbred tracks: the Meadows near Pittsburgh; Pocono Downs near Wilkes-Barre; Chester Downs, a new track being built south of Philadelphia; and a fourth harness track whose location is unknown because it is yet to be licensed by state racing officials.

100% Purses, a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protection Association, which is seeking to build Freedom Park, Thoroughbred track in the Lehigh Valley, did not file for a stand-alone casino license as planned and instead opted to file for the final harness license after the state’s Harness Racing Commission announced that it would not grant the sole remaining license to either existing applicant.

"Our proposed racetrack facility can be easily converted to accommodate theses two breeds of racing," 100% Purses said in a press release, adding that it would continue to "vigorously compete" for the Thoroughbred license

Three more slots casinos will be at Thoroughbred tracks: Philadelphia Park, north of Philadelphia; Penn National Race Course, 20 miles east of Harrisburg; and the proposed Presque Isle Downs being built in Erie.

There will also be five non-racetrack casinos around the state, and the competition for those is expected to be fierce.

The July 2004 law that expanded legalized gambling in Pennsylvania guarantees two so-called stand-alone casinos for Philadelphia and one for Pittsburgh, with the other two going elsewhere in the state.

Charles Betters, a Pittsburgh land developer who is seeking to build a racetrack in Hays to be operated by Churchill Downs, and Ted Arneault, who operates Mountaineer Racetrack in West Virginia and who is building Presque Isle Downs, both decided not to seek the Pittsburgh slots license.

That leaves four entities still in the hunt, including Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises, which is working with Harrah's Entertainment, which owns Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana, and co-owns Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky.

There are at least nine competitors for the two non-track slots licenses that will go outside Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.—Tom Barnes

Posted: 12/28/2005

R. Earl, who didn't begin his racing career until May of his 6-year-old season and less than four months later became a stakes winner, was a unanimous choice for horse of the year at Penn National Race Course.

Trained by Tim Shea for owner-breeder Cleon Cassel, R. Earl compiled a local record of 4 wins from 7 starts with earnings of $61,175.

He received all five first-place ballots submitted by representatives of local media, the track's racing and publicity departments, Equibase, and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

R. Earl defeated maidens for a $25,000 claiming tag in his third lifetime start in early June. After a loss over soft turf a month later, R. Earl reeled off three consecutive victories, highlighted by a neck win in the Capital City Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile turf race.

The 11-year-old Tonto Gusto, who closed out his season with four consecutive sprint victories in the starter allowance ranks, received all five second-place votes.

Third place in the voting went to Evening Clinic, a 6-year-old who won four long-distance starter allowance races at Penn National between May and September.

Date Posted: 12/26/2005 2:33:16 PM Last Updated: 12/26/2005 2:33:16 PM

A Pittsburgh developer who is planning a Thoroughbred track in partnership with Churchill Downs has announced he will not seek license for a stand-alone gaming facility in the Pennsylvania city.

Charles J. Betters, a developer and founder of Pittsburgh Development Group II, L.P. said the group will continue to pursue the racetrack license and, if it received it, would then pursue whatever avenues were available to offer alternative gaming at the track.

"A stand-alone gaming facility does not conform to our original master plan for a new Thoroughbred racetrack complete with a gaming facility and mixed-use entertainment, commercial, and residential community," Betters said in a release Monday. "Moreover, Pittsburgh Development Group does not believe it would be acting in the best interest of the City of Pittsburgh if it were to pursue the award of the stand-alone gaming license, as we feel the license should be awarded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in an effort to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh."

In late 2002, Pittsburgh Development Group announced plans to develop a new Racino as a way to enhance the Thoroughbred industry. The company acquired a site in the Hays section of Pittsburgh that would be part of the 640-acre mixed-use development.

While Pittsburgh Development Group will not apply for the stand-alone gaming license, it will continue to pursue the award of the remaining Thoroughbred racing license. If awarded the Thoroughbred racing license, Betters said the group would then pursue whatever avenues available tom obtain a gaming license for that facility.

Copyright © 2005 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Posted: 12/16/2005 4:33:00 PM ET

Walter Wickes Jr., who owned, bred, and trained horses with his wife Helen Hickman Wickes out of their Carter’s Thicket Farm in Unionville, Pennsylvania, died on Tuesday at age 90.

Walter Wickes campaigned Prince Wick to a victory in the inaugural New York Turf Writers Stakes, a steeplechase event at Saratoga Race Course. Wickes also owned Big Bones, a top steeplechaser in North America in the late 1940s.

He also campaigned top runners over the flat, including 1960 Westchester Stakes winner Vendetta, who equaled the Aqueduct track record for one mile in that race at 1:35.20, and Archie Beamish, who won the 1980 Walter Haight Handicap at Laurel Park.

Wickes is survived by his wife, six children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Labor Day 2005 was a picture perfect day to highlight our biggest day of racing in the Keystone State, Pennsylvania Derby Day.

Picnickers, with family in tow, queued up early to stake their claim to a picnic table. An outdoor concert and kiddy rides and games created a carnival atmosphere on a day that weathermen described as “beautiful.”

With over $1,000,000 in purses up for grabs, the competition figured to be keen. Racing Secretary Sal Sinatra, along with assistant Phil Parker, assembled the largest field ever for the Pennsylvania Derby. It was 14 three year olds that loaded in the gate for the Derby in what seemed like a contentious race.

The crowd made Tracy Farmer’s Sun King the 6-to-5 favorite, and he rewarded his many backers in the crowd with a facile three length win. Trained by Nick Zito and ridden by Raphael Bejarano, Sun King parlayed a win in Delaware’s Leonard Richard Stakes and a second place finish in Monmouth’s Haskell Invitational (Gr. I) to springboard to the Pennsylvania Derby winner’s circle.

California-based Southern Africa, accompanied by trainer Mike Puhich and rider Tyler Baze, made the cross country trip a success by closing from out of the clouds to nose Smokescreen for the place.

The ladies also had their day in the sun, as two supporting stakes were slated for fillies. In the eighth running of the $100,000 Pennsylvania Oaks, favoritism fell to Live Oak Plantation’s Hide and Chic, coming off a second place finish in the Test Stakes (Gr. I) at Saratoga. She could do no better than second, however, as Paraneck Stables Amazing Buy, trained by Jennifer Pederson and ridden by Philly Park’s leading rider Harry Vega, went gate-to-wire for the win. The three-year-old daughter of High Yield notched her fourth stakes score in the Oaks.

The race was marred by the failure to load 9-to-5 second choice Private Gift into the gate before starter Rusty Downes sprung the latch. It was the first in a series of frustrations for jockey Robby Albarado, who was also attempting back-to-back Pennsylvania Derby victories but could no better than seventh aboard Quadrant.

The $75,000 Steve Van Buren Handicap, was won by one of “our own,” as Anita Racing Stables’ Annika Lass, under a smart ride by Danny Velazquez, scored. Trained by Danny’s dad, Freddie, the Florida-bred daughter of Mister Jolie pushed her career earnings past $213,000. The hard hitting gray miss was winning for the seventh time in just 13 career starts.

Freddie was beaming in the winner’s circle, proud of not only the fine effort by his son, but also of the four-year-old filly that has developed into one of the top female sprinters in the Mid-Atlantic. Valley of the Gods, trained by Philly Park’s own Keith LeBarron, got up for second to create an “all Philly” exacta worth $133.80.

The 2005 Derby Day will be remembered for Sun King’s Derby win, an Oaks starter who wasn’t, and stakes success for Philadelphia Park horsemen. Like the weatherman said … it was a beautiful day.

The Pennsylvania HBPA has concerns regarding the number of weather-related cancellations we have experienced this year, with the worst of Mother Nature still ahead of us. These cancellations are affecting our fan base, as well as our daily handle.

In an effort to decrease the number of cancellations, the Pennsylvania HBPA initiated a meeting with all concerned parties regarding this issue. All invested interests were present. The meeting included some owners, trainers, HBPA Board members, jockeys and their guild representative, Penn National management, the racing secretary, stewards, and commission personnel. The meeting was facilitated by the commission with all concerned parties.

Throughout the meeting, there was open communication, and concerns were heard. With all parties participating and the commission’s ever vigilant eye on the problem, it is hoped that weather-related cancellations will decrease in spite of Mother Natures future efforts.

Posted: 12/7/2005

Several Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced a measure on Tuesday to nullify a law that allows 14 slot machine casinos at racetracks and other locations in the state.

State Representatives Paul Clymer (R-Bucks), who was among the lawmakers, said he believes there is a good chance of repealing the slots law. The public is angry over an unpopular legislative pay raise, which he said was adopted without public hearings as was the slots law. A recent move to repeal the pay raise was successful.

Clymer has support for the slots-repeal bill from several groups, including the League of Women Voters and Pennsylvanians Against Gambling Expansion.

"The same unconstitutional process that brought us the illegal pay raise is the one that brought us the irrational, badly conceived slots bill," Michael Geer, leader of Pennsylvanians Against Gambling Expansion, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Posted: 11/29/2005

The Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission issued 227 live racing dates to Penn National Race Course for a year-round 2006 meet that will begin on January 4 and continue through December 30.

Penn National’s 2005 calendar includes 203 live dates.

Posted: 11/11/2005 10:46:00 AM ET

The Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission has scheduled a pair of public hearings for two groups seeking to build tracks in the western part of the state.

The commission will conduct a meeting at 10 a.m. EST Monday at the McKeesport Area School District Administration Building in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on a license request by the group "1935 Inc." to build a track in Allegheny County in South Versailles Township.

At 3 p.m. on Monday at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the commission will conduct a public hearing on Beaver County businessman Charles Betters’s proposal to build Pittsburgh Palisades Park in the suburb of Hays. The track would be operated by Churchill Downs.

The commission is holding public hearings as it considers proposed racetracks for the state’s final Thoroughbred license. The commission is expected to award that license before the end of the year.

The commission’s regular monthly meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. on November 16 at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Date Posted: 11/9/2005 8:11:20 AM Last Updated: 11/9/2005 10:27:59 AM

On the same day it reported a third-quarter loss of $34.5 million, Magna Entertainment Corp. announced it entered into a deal to sell its Pennsylvania operation--The Meadows harness track and a ring of off-track betting parlors in the western part of the state--to Millennium Gaming and Oaktree Capital Management for $225 million.

The third-quarter loss was down from $50.3 million in the third quarter of 2004. But for the first nine months of 2005, the net loss was $65.5 million, up from $54.6 million for the same period in 2004.

Revenue for the third quarter of this year was $83.1 million, down from $94.9 million for the same quarter in 2004. Nine-month revenue this year was $497.6 million, down from $570.8 million for the same period last year.

"The third quarter has traditionally been our least profitable quarter given the seasonality of our business, but we have been able to improve (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) and reduce our net loss compared to the third quarter of 2004," MEC chief executive officer Thomas Hodgson said in a release. "These profit improvements reflect an improvement in both our continuing operations through cost reduction initiatives, as well as our discontinued operations where we realized a $9.8 million gain on the sale of Maryland-Virginia Racing Circuit. Furthermore, we continue to execute on our recapitalization plan by selling non-strategic assets and reducing debt. We also look forward to the opening of our new casino at Remington Park in Oklahoma City later this month."

The 2005 third-quarter results don't include Bay Meadows in Northern California and Multnomah Greyhound Park in Oregon, which were included in the financials for the third quarter of 2004. Those two leased facilities provided MEC with $50.4 million in revenue for the first nine months of 2004.

The sale of The Meadows, a year-round harness track, would give MEC more cash and follow through on its plan to seek out gaming partners. The Meadows is in line for a slot-machine license under Pennsylvania law.

According to a release, all outstanding shares of MEC Pennsylvania Racing and the two associations that have meets at the track--Mountain Laurel Racing and Washington Trotting Association--would be sold to Millennium Gaming and a fund managed by Oaktree Capital Management.

MEC would continue to manage racing operations at The Meadows for a minimum of five years.

"It was not an easy decision to sell The Meadows, but we concluded it was the right decision," Hodgson said during a Nov. 9 conference call on MEC earnings. "It really was a half-billion-dollar decision."

Hodgson said the company would have had to spend $200 million to rebuild the track, which opened in 1963, plus pay a $50-million fee to the state for the slots license. Instead, it opted to sell the operation for $225 million and use some of the revenue on other projects, such as the reconstruction of Gulfstream Park in South Florida.

Gulfstream also is in line for slots, and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has called a special legislative session in December to discuss enabling legislation for gaming in Broward County. Hodgson said MEC envisions a casino operation at Gulfstream that "might be 100% MEC-owned."

The sale of The Meadows would close after the parties receive approval from the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission, and track receives its "category 1" slots license from the state gaming board. Hodgson said the purchaser would shell out the $50 million slots licensing fee.

Copyright © 2005 The Blood-Horse, Inc.

Posted: 10/27/2005 5:25:00 PM ET

Despite sustaining extensive damage to some Gulf Coast properties due to Hurricane Katrina, Penn National Gaming Inc. more than tripled profits during the third quarter ending September 30.

The Wyomissing, Pennsylvania-based company, which owns Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania and Charles Town Races in West Virginia, reported a net income of $55.4-million, or 0.64 cents per share, an increase from $17.2-million, or 0.21 cents per share, during the corresponding period in 2004. Net revenue rose to $294.6-million from $288.6-million. The marked increase in profits was attributed in part to the strong performance of its Baton Rouge, Louisiana, casino after Hurricane Katrina devastated casinos in the New Orleans area.

Fueled by Baton Rouge’s current economic boom in the storm's aftermath, Penn National's Baton Rouge property posted revenues of $30,397,000, a 16.8% increase from the third quarter of 2004. Despite heavy damage to a pair of Mississippi casinos, the company was otherwise bolstered by a broad portfolio of regionally diversified properties.

Charles Town Races and its 4,200 slot machines was Penn National’s biggest revenue producer at $118,440,000 for the third quarter. That was 13.3% more than last year’s third-quarter revenue of $104,503,000.

Penn National Race Course generated revenue of $13,213,000 for the quarter, down 1.8% from the same period in 2004.

In other Penn National news, the company completed its $2.2-billion acquisition of Argosy Gaming Co. on Tuesday. In order to gain regulatory approval for that deal, Penn National had to sell Argosy Casino-Baton Rouge, Argosy Casino-Alton in Illinois, and the Empress Casino in Joliet, Illinois, to avoid becoming a monopoly in either state.

"While we would have preferred to have secured regulatory approvals without divesting any properties, we remain enthusiastic about the financial and strategic benefits of completing this acquisition," Carlino said. "Taking into account the potential sale of two Illinois properties and the recently completed sale of Argosy Casino-Baton Rouge, this accretive transaction further diversifies the company's regional operating base as well as its sources of revenue and cash flow and brings two additional growth opportunities to the three expansion initiatives already being pursued by Penn National."

Date Posted: 10/23/2005 3:14:04 PM Last Updated: 10/23/2005 3:14:04 PM

Politics, lawsuits and red tape have forced the chairman of the state gambling regulatory board to keep extending his projection of how soon Pennsylvania can license its first slot machine parlor. Still, he insisted he is confident in the latest of his revisions, to late spring from his original projection of December.

"If (licensing) gets delayed beyond then, I'll be disappointed," he said. "If we can't get it accomplished ... I don't want to call it a failure, but I'd be disappointed."

But Pennsylvania's road to slots may be comparatively short, despite a slew of hurdles remaining for the board: Even if licenses go out in May or June, that could be speedier than the last three states that launched casino-style gambling.

Michigan, New Mexico and New York each spent more than two years readying slot machines or full-blown casinos, according to an analysis by the Atlantic City, N.J.-based publication, the Gaming Industry Observer.

Before that, 11 other states that legalized casino-style gambling between 1976 and 1995 took an average of 17 months, the Observer said.

Blame the lengthening setup period on the desire to squeeze more tax revenue and public benefits out of gambling, which creates more legislative and regulatory wrangling, said Joe Weinert, the Observer's managing editor.

"That eats up time," Weinert said.

In July 2004, the Legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell approved up to 61,000 slot machines at 14 venues around Pennsylvania, including seven racetracks, and created the state Gaming Control Board to oversee the new industry.

With a portion of the slots revenue earmarked for local governments and property tax cuts statewide, the board has rushed under political pressure to license gambling halls.

Weinert, Decker and others point to the board's stalemate over the licensing of slot-machine suppliers as the biggest delay to date.

First Democratic lawmakers insisted on a provision in the law that would require manufacturers to distribute their machines through an in-state supplier. The provision, they said, would create more jobs.

Now, a Democratic legislative appointee to the seven-member board wants to expand that provision to require suppliers to work in regions of the state. A Republican appointee has blocked that effort, saying it is neither legal nor wise.

Others point to a range of problematic issues.

The board has hired 60 employees, perhaps half of the full complement it will need, and remains stuck on the hiring of a top lawyer.

To speed up the licensing process, the board has sought to hire private firms to conduct in-depth background checks of companies and executives that want to take part in the state's gambling industry. But the state police union has sued to block the hiring, saying troopers should oversee the work.

Zoning approvals of the casinos remain muddled after the Supreme Court struck down a portion of the law that took that authority away from municipalities and gave it to the board. Rendell has pledged to restore zoning power to the board, although the Legislature thus far has not acted.

And the uncertainties have created havoc for some racetracks, which must borrow money from banks against future slots revenues to build their gambling halls.

Decker insisted that he never could have predicted some of the board's challenges, while some he said he probably underestimated.

All told, Decker rates the board's progress as "OK," saying that above all else, the board members have worked well together despite the swirling pressure.

"In light of everything else," he said, "I think it would be great if we could get ... a few (slots parlors) up and running by the third quarter of next year."

Copyright © 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Date Posted: 10/16/2005 2:19:52 PM Last Updated: 10/16/2005 5:16:56 PM

Entrepreneurs vying for licenses to run gambling halls in Pennsylvania have contributed at least $330,000 to political candidates and causes since the state legalized slot machines 14 months ago, campaign finance records show.

The recipients included the five men – Gov. Ed Rendell and the four top Republican and Democrat leaders in the Legislature – who appointed the members of the state board that will award the slots licenses.

About $171,000 was contributed to the governor and the four legislative leaders and PACs that those lawmakers control.

The July 2004 law that created a slot-machine industry in Pennsylvania barred executives of horseracing and gambling companies from making any further political contributions. It also went further, banning contributions from anyone who applies for a slots license.

But the law left open the door for non-gambling interests – developers, businessmen, and others hoping to get into the industry – to donate before they had applied for the right to open slots parlors.

Lawmakers discussed the issue while they were writing the slots legislation but questioned how they could enforce a pre-application ban on contributions and whether it was constitutional.

"I don't know how to tell who would be interested and who is not interested," said Sen. Robert M. Tomlinson, R-Bucks. "Only to the extent that we can identify the field can we curb it."

Good-government groups say it is a loophole in the state's efforts to keep politics and influence-peddling out of the decision-making process that will give rise to a new and lucrative industry in Pennsylvania.

"People don't give away money for nothing; it just doesn't happen," said Tim Potts, a former legislative aide who helped found the good-government group called Democracy Rising. "They expect something in return, and the people who accept that money know the contributors expect something in return."

Starting Nov. 1, the Gaming Control Board will begin accepting applications for licenses for seven slots parlors that do not have to be located at racetracks, and competition is fierce among politically connected businessmen who are accustomed to contributing to campaigns.

Aides to Rendell and the legislative leaders – Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer, Senate Democratic leader Robert J. Mellow, House Speaker John M. Perzel, and House Democratic leader H. William DeWeese – said they would not pressure board appointees to steer licenses to big donors.

The $330,000 in contributions came from 12 individuals, families, or groups and went to a variety of elected officials and political action committees, according to campaign finance reports on file in the state elections bureau. Seven contributors gave $30,000 or more.

The total does not include $43,700 from a developer whose riverfront land in Philadelphia has been optioned by a casino company that hopes to reel in a slots license. The developer faces no legal restrictions on his political giving, though Ameristar Casinos likely would pay him handsomely for the land if it wins a license to run a slots parlor there.

The amount of contributions may be even higher than current records show. Donors may also have contributed to elected officials or political-action committees that have not been reported yet because they have been inactive during this off-election year.

All but one of the donors said publicly they will apply for a slots license, and the other donor has not disputed published reports that he will apply.

One contributor, Joseph Mattioli, said he has given political donations for years to ensure that state lawmakers will listen to him when they consider legislation that could affect the auto racetrack he owns in northeast Pennsylvania.

Mattioli, the chief executive of Pocono Raceway, gave at least $33,150, but said the money was not intended to influence the board. Rather, he said he expects the board will pick the applicants who can bring in the most slots revenue – one-third of which is earmarked for property-tax cuts for the state's 3 million homeowners.

"From what I gather, it's going to be the people the state feels can best develop a cadre of gamblers to come to a casino," Mattioli said.

Former Conrail chief executive David LeVan gave $36,000 last fall, nearly all of it to Rendell, but he said he knew nothing about slots until months later, when a group approached him about building a gambling hall near Gettysburg.

Rendell's press secretary, Kate Philips, said the governor accepted $37,000 in campaign contributions from Levan and another donor because they gave the money before they had expressed any interest in operating slots parlors. However, he returned $15,000 to Joseph A. Hardy, who owns the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County, because of his known interest in a slots license, she said.

Rendell "would not want any judgment placed on himself or groups that are pursuing a license," Philips said. "He doesn't believe there's a link; it's really a matter of appearances."

Copyright © 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Posted: 9/27/2005 12:24:00 PM ET

Penn National Gaming Inc. plans to divest both of Argosy Gaming Co.’s Illinois properties in order to secure the Illinois Gaming Board’s approval to proceed with the company’s planned acquisition of Argosy.

Penn National, the Pennsylvania-based company that owns Penn National Race Course, a network of off-track wagering sites in Pennsylvania, and Charles Town Races in West Virginia, would enter into an agreement to sell the Alton Belle Casino in Alton, Illinois, and the Empress Casino Joliet in Joliet, Illinois, within 18 to 24 months of completing its acquisition of Argosy.

Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe said on Tuesday that he is optimistic that the proposed merger could be approved at the board’s September 29 meeting.

Posted: 9/20/2005 5:18:00 PM ET

Penn National Race Course plans to have 11 assistant starters at the starting gate on Wednesday evening after jockeys refused to ride on September 17 because they said there was a lack of sufficient number of assistant starters.

Riders boycotted a portion of Penn National’s September 17 card because only five assistant starters were available. That evening was the second consecutive night the track canceled its racing program after the second race, as part of the September 16 card was lost to wet weather.

"If Penn National has 11, then the jockeys will probably ride," Jockeys’ Guild Member Representative Larry Saumell said. "If you get a horse that flips, then that takes two men right there to handle the head and the tale, so there was no way to ride with only five men. If they have 11, then we can probably work with 11 depending on the fields. We’d really like to have 12 guys back there for the full fields, though."

Wednesday’s card at Penn National features four fields of 12 and another field of 11 out of nine scheduled races.

"We have quickly and more than sufficiently dealt with the concerns of the jockeys with regards to the starting gate," Penn National General Manager Richard Schnaars said. "Now it is time for the riders to step up and support the local program so we may race without the thought of more unexpected cancellations."

"These guys want to race, but safety is an issue," Saumell said. "I don’t know why they keep coming up short men, and hopefully they’ve solved the problem, but to ask these guys to go out there with nobody in the gate isn’t fair to jockeys or the betting public."—Ed DeRosa

The life of W. Richard “Bobo” Stewart, age 46, of Elizabethtown was tragically cut short on the evening of June 8, 2005. He was employed by Penn National Race Track for the past 24 years as an assistant starter. He was also a Thoroughbred owner and loved to play golf. Bobo scored his first “hole-in-one” on June 6, 2005.

Bobo is survived by his parents, his wife, Mary, and a daughter and step-daughter. Although he is no longer with us, he will not be forgotten.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld Act 71 that legalized gaming within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This decision has paved the way for the Gaming Board to proceed with the acceptance of gaming applications. It is anticipated applications will begin being accepted in September of 2005, with the issuance of the gaming license to Penn National sometime during the first quarter of 2006.

Should this timeframe remain accurate, slots should be operational in a new $240-million integrated racing and gaming facility at Penn National in the first quarter of 2007.

The Pennsylvania HBPA Board of Directors would like to thank the HBPA of Ontario for a wonderful National HBPA summer convention in Toronto in July. The accommodations were first rate, and the food and service were second to none.

In the last few months, Penn National has lost some very close friends. Many of these people have been at the racetrack since it first opened its doors in 1972. They were owners, trainers, jockeys, gallop persons, jockey agents, farriers, and van drivers - all an integral part of life on the backstretch. Their unique personalities have certainly made a lasting impression on many people at Penn National. They will be remembered in many ways, and we would like to take a moment to remember them and wish those they left behind our sincerest sympathy and thank you for being part of who they were. Our friends that have passed include:

Robert Bates (July 29, 1929 to March 18, 2005): Bob was 75 years old at the time of his passing. He was born in Mount Shasta, California. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and a gun collector. Friends at Penn National knew Bob as a farrier, horse owner/trainer, and van driver. He is survived by his wife, Mary.

Willie A. Belmonte: Willie was born on January 10, 1966 and passed in December of 2004. He was a trainer at many of the East Coast tracks and Penn National. Willie later obtained his jockey’s license and rode races in Boston, at the North Hampton Fair, and in New Mexico. Willie is survived by his father, three brothers - one of which is Luis Belmonte - a sister, and three children.

Stanley W. Hammond: Stanley passed on March 24, 2005 at 79 years old. Stanley was a World War II Army veteran who fought at the Battle of the Bulge and the Invasion of Normandy. He had earned three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, and a Bronze Star. Stanley was a longtime trainer and horsemen. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Ruth.

Charles F. Moffitt (September 22, 1932 – April 16, 2005): Charles was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was 72 at the time of his passing. He served in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne in Korea during the Korean Conflict. Charles was a longtime owner and trainer. He is survived by his companion of 42 years, Florence Adank, and three daughters.

Edward F. Schaffer (May 9, 1914 to April 16, 2005): Ed was a longtime owner and trainer. He lived in Hillsborough, New Jersey. He was 90 years old at the time of his passing.

Crist Smith: Crist passed on April 8, 2005 at the age of 70 years old. He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Crist was a payroll supervisor for the U.S. government at Fort Indiantown Gap before becoming a racehorse owner and later a jockey’s agent. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jeanette.

Lewis E. Strick (December 23, 1959 to November 19, 2004): Better known as “Diamond Lou”, Strick was born in Danville, New York. Before coming to Penn National, Diamond Lou was at Finger Lakes Race Track. He was a gallop person and lived his life working with horses. Strick was often seen on horseback or riding his bike from barn to barn. He is survived by his parents, a brother, and a sister.

Garnet “Buddy” Troyer: Buddy passed away on April 1, 2005 at 70 years old. He had served in the Air Force in North Africa. Among the horse related positions that Buddy held was one as the farm trainer at Sagamore Farm. While there, he regularly exercised the legendary horse Native Dancer. Buddy trained horses in Florida, California, Washington state, and finally Pennsylvania. Donald Litz of Maryland Stallion Station said, “Buddy had a sensitivity with horses that was rare.” Buddy is survived by his wife, four sons, and a daughter.

Leslie Vegh (July 19, 1935 – February 3, 2005): Les was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary. He competed on the Hungarian Jumping Team and toured Europe. While fighting for the Hungarian Army, Les crossed the boarder into Austria. From there, he went to Canada and eventually the United States. While in Canada, Les galloped horses and then became the shedrow foreman for his idol, the legendary Woody Stevens. Les then became the assistant trainer for Jerry Meyer and had a string of horses that went up and down the East Coast. He opened Finger Lakes and Penn National, and he later came back to Penn National in 1975 with his own string of horses. Les had stated that he, “always got a bigger kick out of watching his own $2,500 horses run than watching someone else’s stakes horses.” Les is survived by his wife of over 25 years, Nancy.

Although our friends are gone, they have made a mark on us forever. They will be remembered for all of the contributions they have made to horse racing and many other aspects of society. Their personalities have helped mold the backside and inspired and influenced some, while setting the “bar” for others. They are gone, but they will never be forgotten.

With the passage of slots legislation, we have seen an increase in the purses independently of the pari-mutuel handle. Unfortunately, the handle has seen some decline over the last year. Purse increases have led to larger breeder and stallion awards paid out, but the decline in the revenue (1% handle) has put a big strain on the Pennsylvania-Bred Bonus Program.

The handle and the Breeding Fund disbursements will be closely monitored. If the current trend continues, you can expect to see a reduction in the Pennsylvania-Bred owner bonus percentages. This could occur as early as July 1, 2005.

A 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization called the R.A.C.E Fund, Inc. has been established to aid in saving Thoroughbreds and racetrack pony horses from going to slaughter when they can no longer race or work. The acronym R.A.C.E stands for Retirement Assistance and Care for Equines.

The purpose of the R.A.C.E Fund, Inc. is to establish and maintain a funding source to help pay expenses for retired racehorses and pony horses that are donated to non-profit horse rescue centers. The organization also plans to educate horseman and the public about horse slaughter. The business plan set forth by the founders of The R.A.C.E. Fund, Inc. projects that major funding will be derived from a percentage of the gross purse money.

Co-founders Patricia Bewley, Diana Meyers, and Marlene Murray are sisters and the daughters of veteran owner and trainer Art Kelley. Patricia and Marlene owned and trained horses for many years, and Diana was an exercise and pony girl. In addition, board member Julie Mock previously worked for several trainers as a groom and is now an owner.

Furthermore, R.A.C.E Fund committee members Stephanie Tate and Tina Deibler currently own and train horses, respectively, Renee Nodine is a practicing veterinarian, Angela Pasternostro is an attorney and has worked with horses, and Charity Farrell is a state trooper and has also worked with Thoroughbreds in the past.

“We believe the R.A.C.E Fund is a win-win situation for everyone involved,” stated President Marlene Murray, “because it is a way for the Thoroughbred racing industry to give back to these gallant creatures that have given so much to them without causing a hardship on anyone.”

It is sort of a “401K” plan for the horses because they are working for it, and a portion is being taken out for their well being when they can no longer race or work. Not only will many horses be saved from going to slaughter, but owners that donate their horses to non-profit horse rescue centers may receive a tax deduction for the “fair market value” of the horse. In addition, the R.A.C.E Fund will help sustain non-profit horse rescue centers that are so vitally needed. It will not impose a hardship on the horseman because the money will be donated from the gross purse amount via the HBPA or Horseman’s Association directly to the fund.

“Racehorses and racetrack pony horses need to retire just like people do. It is an ongoing process and will require perpetual funding,” declared Vice-President Patricia Bewley.

“That is why a percentage coming from the gross purse money is so ideal, because the purse structure is there at every race meet and will always be as long as there is racing.”

Basically, the majority of monies donated to the R.A.C.E Fund will be used to pay a monthly fee per donated horse per month to participating horse rescue centers to help pay for the cost of a donated horse until it can be adopted out to a loving home. The R.A.C.E Fund will also help pay for the cost of euthanasia when it has been determined by a veterinarian to be necessary.

“We plan to be off and running soon” stated Secretary Diana Meyers. “One HBPA division unanimously endorsed our business plan, and we are in the process of negotiating funding from that track. Our long-term goal is to have every racetrack contributing to the R.A.C.E Fund someday. We are also hopeful that racetrack management and the jockeys will donate to the fund as horses are such an integral part of racing and without them there would be no racetracks or racing.”

To obtain more information about the R.A.C.E Fund, Inc., please visit the organization’s website at www.racefund.org You may also send any suggestions or comments to Info@racefund.org or call (717) 856-7863.

If you wish to donate to the R.A.C.E Fund, Inc., contributions may be sent to the R.A.C.E Fund, Inc., 8031 Rabbit Lane, Harrisburg, PA 17112. Contributions are tax deductible, so please include your mailing address in order for a receipt to be sent to you. All checks should be made payable to the R.A.C.E Fund, Inc.

The start of the New Year also corresponded with a change in the preference system at Penn National Race Course. The “Star” system has been replaced with a “preference date system”. The Condition Book Committee worked cooperatively with the racing secretary to develop a preference date system to use at Penn National. The committee believes the new preference date system will be advantageous to those who are stabled at Penn National and individuals who have supported the racing program in the past.

Foal papers must be in the racing office to receive a preference date. Preference dates will not supersede race conditions.

There are four preferences designated, and they are identified with the letters E, R, S and Z. The letter will be coupled with a numerical day of the year. An E is assigned to a horse that has been entered, makes the also-eligibles but, does not draw into the race or is excluded. A horse that runs will get an R. An S is assigned to a horse that has been entered and scratched. A Z is assigned to a horse that has been entered, made the body of the race but, did not run due to a cancellation.

The order of the preferences are: Z, E, R and S. Turf and dirt dates will be kept separate. The Pennsylvania-bred preference will supersede all dates other than a Z-date. For further explanation, see the current condition book.

The new contract was agreed upon in January 2005. This occurred after many months of negotiations and the passage of the slots bill. Some of the important details are the following:

• Penn National agreed to advance $4 million dollars in slots revenue to supplement the current purse structure before the slots are operational. • The current 15 days assigned for a “vet scratch” will be changed to 10 days.
• There will be a written agreement that the hub will not be moved from Penn National.
• The ability to negotiate approval of the simulcast signal at times when it is deemed harmful to racing.
• Management also requested a seven-year contract.

The results of this agreement are already visible with the purse increase that has occurred. We’d like to thank our contract committee for their many months of hard work.

Posted: 1/13/2005 12:37:00 PM ET

Penn National Race Course has signed a seven-year racing contract with the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and entered into a three-year-old collective bargaining agreement with the Local 137 mutuel teller union, the track announced Thursday. The agreement with horsemen includes a stipulation that Penn National would supplement purses by $4-million in advance of expanded gaming at the Grantville facility. Regular meetings between the track and the horsemen regarding the distribution of supplemental funds would also be held.

The horsemen’s agreement is a "major cornerstone for continued growth and future success of Thoroughbred racing at Penn National," General Manager Richard Schnaars said. "Higher purses set the stage for better and more competitive racing, and that in turn helps to stimulate pari-mutuel wagering. We expect this program to significantly improve the quality of our live racing."

James Wames, president of the Pennsylvania HBPA, said the new contract would and the addition of slot machines in 2006 would usher in a new era of quality racing at the track.

"The horsemen eagerly await this opportunity to work with track management to achieve this common goal," he said.

The contract with Local 137 applies to mutuel tellers and the track’s admission staff and continues Penn National’s 20-year relationship with that union.

Penn National plans to spend about $150-million to develop a new facility, with revenue generated from the machines helping to supplement purses.

Just a reminder that the annual Christmas party will once again be held at the Holiday Inn in Grantville. The party is scheduled to be on December 14, 2004 from 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. The tickets are available at the Pennsylvania HBPA office. Contact the Pennsylvania HBPA office for ticket information at (717) 469-2970.

Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals reopened on Monday, August 2, 2004 for scheduled appointments for equine patients.

The Widener Hospital, located at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, closed on May 10, 2004 to new patients because of an outbreak of multi-drug-resistant Salmonella among some of the hospital’s patients. Since the closing, the entire hospital complex has been sandblasted, disinfected, and repainted. Dirt barn floors have been removed, and a new drainage system and concrete floors have been installed. These floors are covered with a special cushioning material that can be disinfected easily.

More than 200 cultures were performed on the buildings and the resident animals. It was found that only a limited area of the hospital cultured positive for the organism. None of the resident animals cultured positive. Culturing continues prior to these areas being reopened to staff and patients.

While the hospital was closed, its diagnostic laboratories remained open, and the Field Service continued to make farm calls. The Hoffman Center for Animal Reproduction, located on a different part of the New Bolton Center campus, reopened on May 27 for reproduction cases.

Additional bio-security measures have been instituted at the Widener Hospital and on the New Bolton Center campus to protect the animal patients and the staff and faculty. Access to barns and treatment areas is limited, disinfectant footbaths are mandatory when entering each area, and new traffic patterns have been established.

The Central Penn Racetrack Chaplaincy of America sponsored a “Day at the Races” with Pat Day. Mr. Day is the spokesman for the national Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) and was scheduled to complete a 13-track tour to deliver his message. Penn National was stop number 11 for Pat.

The program included a dinner with Mr. Day, an auction with racing memorabilia, an autograph session, and two mounts on the evening program. Pat delivered about a half-hour testimonial about his life, racing career, and his faith. Pat Day started his riding career as a bull rider. To date, he has won 8,700 races.

Pat spent the morning and afternoon sitting in the track kitchen talking with the local horsemen. The dinner was well attended, and the chaplaincy raised about $3,000 to be used to serve the horseman on the backside. Mr. Day signed autographs for about 1 1/2 hours and seemed very at ease as he chatted with each racing fan. Each autograph was individualized, with a brief note and Pat’s signature.

Pat then took to the track and won a race for trainer John Zimmerman and ran second for trainer Todd Beattie. A thank you goes out to Penn Gaming for providing the meal, facilities and photographs. A good time was had by all that attended.

The HBPA and all the horsemen, owners, and trainers would like to wish Dr. Jim Summers a speedy recovery. If you would like to send a card, please contact the Pennslyvania HBPA office at (717) 469-2970. We look forward to seeing you back in the saddle soon.

Posted: 12/1/2004 5:36:00 PM ET

In an expected move, an amendment to Pennsylvania’s slots legislation that included a measure to ban state lawmakers from having ownership interests in gambling operations was vetoed by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell on Tuesday.

While Rendell said he did not disagree with eliminating the provision that allowed lawmakers to own as much as 1% of a gaming entity, he did not like the provision that made it optional rather than mandatory for the new casinos to use Pennsylvania-based distributors when supplying casinos, and objected to a change that would shift gaming revenues to make up shortfalls if state lottery proceeds fall off after slot machine gambling begins.

Rendell and several other Democrats also claimed that GOP changes weaken the law "by narrowing the definition of 'immediate family' to permit the parents and siblings of public officials ... to have a direct and unlimited financial interest in regulated gaming companies," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Although State Representative Paul Clymer (R-Bucks) has been a strong opponent of expanded gambling, he was prepared to support the GOP amendments.

"The press and public zeroed in on that 1% ownership provision. We need to remove that from the controversy that engulfed this law," Clymer told the Post-Gazette. "Now we're back to where we started from because the governor vetoed the amendments

Date Posted: 11/21/2004 8:34:42 AM Last Updated: 11/22/2004 3:56:23 PM

A bill that became a political football bounced through the Pennsylvania Legislature largely on the strength of Republican votes Saturday after lawmakers spent weeks jousting over whether and how to amend the state's four-month-old slot-machine gambling law. With the Legislature rushing to close its two-year session this weekend, the bill was sent to Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell. While House Democratic leader H. William DeWeese warned that Rendell would veto the Republican-authored bill, Rendell's spokeswoman said he had not made a decision.

The last holdup on the legislation dropped away Saturday when House Republicans joined the Senate GOP in supporting the repeal of a requirement in current law that slot-machine manufacturers sell through a Pennsylvania-based distributor.

The bill passed the Senate on a 28-19 party-line vote and the House by a wider margin, 130-63. Democrats, who supplied most of the votes to pass the original legislation, say the bill carries gifts for the gambling industry and could open a "garage door" to public corruption.

"This is an atrocious piece of legislation," said Sen. Vincent Fumo (D-Philadelphia), a key architect of the original gambling law. "And worse than that, it is a deceptive piece of legislation."

Republicans cited the bill's provisions for greater gambling oversight by the attorney general and a new prohibition on lawmakers' ownership of gambling interests.

The bill is "the first step in cleaning up our new gaming law," said Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, an outspoken gambling opponent.

Senate Republicans contend that no other gambling state requires that slot-machine manufacturers go through local distributors, and a middleman would simply increase costs for slots licensees. Democrats had argued for the requirement, saying distributorships would create jobs in the state.

The state's fledgling gambling commission has yet to meet, hire an employee or issue any licenses to operate slots parlors. The law, which authorized as many as 61,000 slot machines at 14 gambling halls, was designed to tax gambling revenue in an effort to generate $1 billion to lower residential property taxes.

The ping-ponging bill originally gained steam, and then amendments, in July after lawmakers became worried that the public believed they had reserved a 1% ownership stake in slots parlors for themselves. They said a 1 percent ownership allowance was designed to accommodate stock ownership held in a fund over which the owner has no control, such as a mutual or pension fund.

The Republican-sponsored change would dictate an absolute ban on ownership in a company that operates or supplies a Pennsylvania gambling hall, but maintained a provision for mutual funds and pension funds under which an unlimited ownership of a gambling interest would not be prohibited.

The House has barred members from owning a gambling interest, and Rendell issued an identical order for members of his administration. The Senate has no such rule.

Copyright © 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Date Posted: 10/18/2004 3:54:21 PM Last Updated: 10/18/2004 3:54:21 PM

The Downs at Pocono, a Standardbred facility that held Thoroughbred meets in the 1970s, could become the first Pennsylvania racetrack owned by an Indian tribe should regulators approve a $280-million deal between Penn National Gaming Inc. and the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. PNGI has owned the track since 1996, and it also owns Penn National Race Course in Grantville in central Pennsylvania. Under gaming legislation passed in July, no company can own more than 33% of a second track, so PNGI wants to sell the Downs at Pocono.

The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, which operates a casino in Connecticut, made the offer on the harness track near Wilkes-Barre in northeast Pennsylvania. According to published reports, the tribe plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars establishing a slot-machine casino at Pocono.

The Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission must approve the sale, which is expected to close before the end of the year. The tribe would obtain the racetrack, which sits on 400 acres, and a network of off-track betting parlors, one of which is in Erie in northwest Pennsylvania.

In a release, PNGI said the Pocono operation, in the 12 months that ended June 30, accounted for about 50% of its Pennsylvania revenue and operating income.

"While we would have preferred to have developed Pocono Downs ourselves, given the ownership restrictions on a second licensed slot operation in Pennsylvania, we concluded we had no alternative but to sell this property," PNGI chief executive officer Peter Carlino said in a prepared statement. "We will proceed with our plans to develop and open a slot-machine facility at Penn National Race Course in early 2006."

Other existing tracks in line for slots are Philadelphia Park, owned by Greenwood Racing, and The Meadows, a harness track owned by Magna Entertainment Corp. Tracks planned for Chester and Erie also will have slots.

Copyright © 2004 The Blood-Horse, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Posted: 10/8/2004 1:02:00 PM ET

The Pennsylvania Senate passed an amendment to the state’s three-month-old slots law on Wednesday that makes a number of changes to some controversial provisions and includes giving the state attorney general broader powers in oversight of slots operations.

The amendment, which passed 49-1, requires the Gaming Control Board to give the state’s attorney general greater authority over the slots industry, and eliminates the state gambling commission’s power to override local zoning ordinances, except in Philadelphia.

The measure also makes it illegal for state lawmakers, local government, and party officials to have any financial interest in a slots parlor. Under the original slots bill, lawmakers and public officials could hold up to 1% ownership in gaming companies that operate slots parlors. The requirement that slots machines be purchased through a Pennsylvania-based distributor is also eliminated.

State Senator Vincent Fumo (D-Philadelphia), who authorized the slots law, was the lone opposing vote. The Republican majority invoked a motion to halt debate, forcing a vote, which drew Fumo’s ire and prompted him to hurl a slur at senators, the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal reports.

The measure now goes before the state House, where the issue of restoring local zoning control could become a point of contention.

"I was told my legislation would be ‘very hard to do in the House,’" State Representative Katie True (R-Lancaster) told the newspaper. "God forbid we have proper zoning controls for a casino. The construction of one of these facilities would put a Wal-Mart to shame."

The legislation allowing 61,000 slot machines at 14 sites within the state, including seven racetracks, was signed into law in July.

Thank you to Oregon HBPA for its hospitality during the National HBPA convention in Portland in July of 2004.

The HBPA would like to say thank you and best wishes to Chaplain Charles Patane and his wife, Salame, as they leave to pursue other endeavors. We would also like to say welcome to Chaplain David Withers.

A new safety rule soon to be implemented will be no jogging backwards between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on gate days. There have been numerous near mishaps when horses are being schooled and breaking from the gate. It is hoped that this change will enhance the safety of the horses and riders as they complete their morning training.

The contract has been extended until August 31, 2004. Contract negotiations have been ongoing since March of this year. The passage of slots legislations was paramount to the contract negotiations. The timing of slots implementation has also created some concern. A purse enhancement has been discussed, but an agreement as to the exact figures has not been reached. Negotiations will continue, with the hopes of a resolution in the near future.

We are happy to report the passage of slots legislation. It is the hope that this legislation will allow Pennsylvania racing to remain competitive with racing in other states.

The downside of the passing of this legislation is the time it will take for its implementation. There are numerous things that must occur before slots will be operational. First, the Gaming Commission must be named, and it is hoped that this will be completed by September of 2004. To clear the board, background checks will then be done, and this can take 30 to 60 days. The board must then compile the norms and regulations that will regulate the licenses, permits, and slots operation. Finally, the Gaming Commission will issue the gaming licenses. Nothing will occur until the Gaming Commission gives the operators the okay to begin.

Due to past experiences with Charles Town, Penn National has indicated it will not construct a temporary facility. It is the expectation of management at Penn National that slots will be up and running by January of 2006.

The Shumaker Handicap was won by Lone Traveler, who was ridden to victory by H.G. Rivera. Lone Traveler is owned by Victory Thoroughbreds, LLC, and trained by Ramon Preciado. Mrs. Ronald B. Houghton of Pennsylvania was the breeder.

Rudirudy was the 1 1/2-length winner in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Handicap. Rudirudy was ridden by R.J. Rosado and is owned and trained by Gaston D. Sandoval. Penn National’s Flint Stites placed second and third, respectively, with his entry of Hawkwatch, ridden by Luis Belmonte, and La Maquina, ridden by Eric Valles. The entry is owned by Billy D. Stites.

Date Posted: 8/20/2004 9:35:34 PM Last Updated: 8/20/2004 9:36:29 PM

Pennsylvania's recently passed gaming law is unconstitutional because it deliberately targets one real estate developer and excludes him from obtaining a slot machine license, the businessman said in a federal lawsuit filed Friday.

Attorneys for Charles Betters said three provisions in the law can only be applied to Pittsburgh Palisades Park, a proposed $100 million housing and retail development on the city's South Side that would include a Thoroughbred horse racing track and slots parlor.

"We believe this legislation is outrageous," attorney Thomas W. King III said. "We think that much of it was directed to the plaintiffs in this case and we intend to fully pursue our rights in the United States District Court in seeking to overturn this legislation."

A provision in the law that prevents gaming facilities from being built within 20 miles of one another would exclude the Palisades, because it is almost certain that a license will be granted to The Meadows, a harness track in suburban Pittsburgh, King said.

The legislation allows groups that possess or have applied for a harness racing license to apply for slots. It also allows now-open thoroughbred tracks to apply for slots licenses, but excludes those that are seeking a license for a thoroughbred track, such as Palisades, according to the suit.

Lastly, the gaming law directly targets developers of the Palisades project because they have appealed a horse-racing license granted to the proposed Presque Isle Downs racetrack in Erie, King said. The legislation would require that the Palisades drop its appeal to get a horse-racing license, he said.

That provision violates Betters' constitutional right to due process, King said.

It is not clear why all the provisions are in the bill, but King said that would be uncovered during pretrial proceedings.

"What I'm suggesting to you is that one and one and one equal three," King said. "And I can't say who did what and how they did it until we get into the discovery in this case, but we fully expect to explore what's occurred and why it was directed to us."

Tony LePore, chief of staff for Sen. Robert J. Mellow, the Democratic leader from Lackawanna County, said the lawsuit has little merit at first glance.

"Mr. Betters made business plans based on an assumption that he could have his lobbyists work the bill to his advantage and that failed," LePore said. "What we did was a write a fair bill for everyone. It doesn't play to Betters' advantage, so instead of trying to compete on a level playing field, he chose to pursue this dubious claim in federal court."

Gov. Ed Rendell in July signed laws authorizing 61,000 slot machines in Pennsylvania. The state's share of revenues would be used to reduce property taxes by $1 billion.

Rendell is named as a defendant, along with the state Legislature, through Senate president pro tempore Robert C. Jubelirer and House Speaker John Perzel.

Jubelirer was attending a funeral Friday and was not available.

Perzel would not comment because he had not seen the suit, a spokeswoman said. Rendell's spokeswoman said the governor fully anticipated challenges to the law, but had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.

The attorney general's office, which would defend the state, had not reviewed the suit and a spokesman declined comment.

The suit also names as defendant the state gaming board and asks the court to prevent the board from issuing any gaming licenses before the litigation is settled.

The governor, the Legislature, and the board are expected to be served with court papers by Tuesday, King said.

Copyright © 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

NEW YORK - When Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell signed a bill on Monday legalizing up to 61,000 slot machines in the state, he started the ball rolling on an enormous restructuring of the Northeast's gambling landscape. The machines, which are expected to generate $3 billion each year while perhaps boosting purses at Philadelphia Park to $500,000 a day, will have impacts on casinos in neighboring states, on legislatures in states that do not yet have casinos, and on the racing industry.

If the projections hold, Pennsylvania will become one of the most lucrative attractions for horses in North America. Philadelphia Park may offer higher purses than any other track in the country except Keeneland. That would put enormous pressure on horse populations from Massachusetts to Florida and set off pitched competitions among tracks to draw runners. Stud fees and broodmare values will also face upward pressure.

Pennsylvania has four tracks, but three more are scheduled to be built. It's possible that the state will ultimately have four Thoroughbred racetracks. That raises the possibility of year-round racing at all four, perhaps 800 days a year. The state's two Thoroughbred tracks currently run 425 days a year.

Aside from casino profits, the slots revenue will be used for tax relief, economic development, and the subsidy for the racing industry. What will remain unclear for some time is the impact on the local economies of that $3 billion transfer of wealth.

States like West Virginia and Delaware have largely avoided damaging their local economies because their slot machine operations drew the vast majority of their customers from out of state. But as slots locations increase in other states, the ratio of out-of-state customers is likely to decline in West Virginia and Delaware.

Without question, tracks in Delaware could be significantly damaged by slots in Pennsylvania. Delaware Park, a Thoroughbred track in Wilmington that draws heavily from the Philadelphia area, will now face competition from four Philadelphia-based slots parlors.

"They're going to put a lot of those slots in Philly, and that's going to really hurt Delaware," said Sebastian Sinclair, a partner in the gaming consultant company Christiansen Capital Associates. "To some extent, it's probably going to hurt West Virginia, too."

Competition will also be heavy among the in-state casinos. The operation at The Meadows, a Magna Entertainment harness track outside of Pittsburgh, will compete with two other slots parlors in Pittsburgh, and perhaps with another racetrack in the city. Philadelphia Park will ultimately compete with two casinos in downtown Philadelphia, along with a casino at a new harness track south of the city.

Bob Green, one of the co-owners of Philadelphia Park, said he was reluctant to cite an estimate for per-machine revenues because of the uncertainty over how the competition will look. But he said that Philly Park's numbers should be "better than anything in the area, particularly Delaware and Atlantic City," where per-machine revenues have averaged approximately $250 a day.

Racetracks in the state will likely get a head start on the competition. The legislation allows for tracks to receive conditional licenses, meaning slots operations could be in place at some tracks by late 2005. The other sites in the state are not expected to be operational until 2006.

All casino sites will have to pay a $50 million licensing fee up front. Philadelphia Park, for one, is expected to spend "at least several hundred millions of dollars" to build its casino, Green said.

In the tracks' favor, the sites were given a generous cut of the slots revenue by the state. In contrast to New York, where tracks were given only 20.25 percent of the revenue, Philadelphia Park and other sites will receive about 45 percent of the gross profit, with 12 percent for purses. That will allow the sites to spend heavily on casinos that can compete with the numerous gambling alternatives cropping up in the Northeast.

The number of competitors is only expected to increase. In reaction to Pennsylvania's bill, legislators in Maryland have called for a special session in August to pass a gambling bill, although the speaker of the House, Michael Busch, has said slots should be voted on by the public. Maryland has failed to pass a slots bill three years in a row, despite intense lobbying by racetracks and gambling interests.

Efforts for slots in Maryland have failed in large part because Busch has characterized the bills as handouts to the racing industry. In that sense, the Pennsylvania bill may herald a new, more varied approach for slots that includes tracks.

Posted: 7/3/2004 7:08:00 PM ET

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will announce winners of 14 slot machine licenses during a public meeting sometime late next year or in 2006, if the Pennsylvania slots measure is signed into law. The procedure is detailed in the 74-page gambling bill being debated in the state House of Representatives, following the state Senate’s passage early Friday morning, the Pocono Record reports. House Majority Leader Sam Smith (R-Punxsutawney), has reportedly said that he was 99% certain that the bill would pass his chamber.

"It will be like the NFL draft," Gary Tuma, a spokesman for the legislation’s sponsor Senator Vincent Fumo (R-Philadelphia), quipped to the newspaper.

Under the measure’s language, the board is to place slots facilities in strategic locations to maximize revenue and avoid market saturation.

"You have to look at the whole state picture," Tuma said. "It really has to be a unified decision."

Though the licensing process has been estimated to take up to 1½ years, racetrack owners will be able to apply for a conditional license in order to move ahead with construction of slots parlors, Tuma said, but they will still need a permanent license.

The licensing process includes financial and criminal background checks, and applicants will be judged on hiring practices, as well as if their business plans create "living wage" jobs, boost economic development, and have access to road networks.

Posted: 6/12/2004 3:43:00 PM ET

Officials with Pennsylvania racetracks are prepared to fight a proposed plan by a number of Republican state legislators who want an auction to determine who would be awarded slots licenses if the gaming machines are legalized.

The auction plan, supported by House Majority Leader Sam Smith (R- Jefferson), is in direct contrast to Governor Ed Rendell’s suggestion of awarding slots licenses to a casino operator in exchange for a one-time fee of $50-million, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Track officials and horsemen opposed to the plan argue the auction would hurt existing racetracks and possibly force the facilities out of business if they fail to win the bidding.

"On its face, auctioning licenses to the highest bidders sounds good, but it is more like a political and economic nightmare in the making," Thomas Kauffman, executive director of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association, told the newspaper.

Mike Jeannot, vice president of Magna Entertainment Corp.’s Racing Pennsylvania, which owns The Meadows, agreed that an auction would hurt the track’s ability to build casinos, restaurants, and theaters he believes are needed to compete with neighboring states that already offer slots at their tracks.

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission held a meeting at Penn National Racetrack to explain the new split sampling technique that is to be implemented. The idea is to get continuity between all tracks in the state of Pennsylvania. The benefits to the new system are that the split sample will be able to be stored more easily, and the sample will be more stable.

Dr. Soma from New Bolton Center and Deb Tsang, a Quality Assurance Officer for the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology & Research Lab, “lab police,” were present to explain the procedure. This procedure has been used successfully at the Pennsylvania standardbred tracks for approximately one year.

The new procedure only affects the blood sample and does not change the procedures for urine collection. With the new system, the original sample (one tube of blood) will remain sealed and untouched before it is sent to the lab. The State Veterinarian will centrifuge another one of the tubes, the seal will be broken, and the plasma will be withdrawn and put into a plastic pipette. These pipettes can then be frozen and stored without fear of the tubes breaking or the sample biodegrading. If an original sample tests positive for a substance, the split plasma sample in the pipette can only be tested for the original substance found. A trainer can choose to be present to observe the State Veterinarian complete the blood sample, or they can sign a waiver and it will be completed by the State Veterinarian without them present.

It was reported that plasma testing is a more accurate testing method since drug levels do not change much in plasma samples over time and that new screens for plasma, for all classes of drugs, are being developed. Plasma testing will also allow for more accurate withdrawal times of therapeutic medications. This new procedure should not lengthen the time a horse spends in the test barn after a race, but it should produce a more stable split sample for easier storage.

Dr. Soma was also eager to share the possibility that there may soon be a new anti- bleeder medication. The name of this medication is Equonisol, and it incorporates an injectable medication and an inhalant. The medication works as an anti-inflammatory for the lungs. It reduces the pulmonary pressure in the lungs, thus reducing the hemorrhaging that occurs in the lungs when the horse exerts itself. The medication is currently being tested in Macau, with FDA approval pending. Trials of the medication may occur in Pennsylvania in the next three to four months.

As of this writing, the passage of “slot legislation” in Pennsylvania continues to be elusive. The hope for passage in mid-April has come and gone. The latest hitch is the lack of an agreed upon property tax relief bill to allocate the spending of revenues generated by the slot machines. Both chambers of the legislature have the desire to pass the slot bill and property tax relief concurrently. It appears the major reason for non-passage in December 2003, Indian gaming, has been resolved. We remain hopeful of passage prior to the end of the fiscal year, which is June 2004.

The Pennsylvania HBPA condition book committee, in conjunction with track management, is currently examining the preferences for turf racing at Penn National. It is clear the current star system has numerous faults that do not adequately facilitate those horses that have been previously excluded from turf races. We are currently examining numerous date systems in other jurisdictions in hopes of finding the correct system for Penn National.

The Pennsylvania HBPA decided to be creative and chose to serve Easter dinner to those living on the backside themselves. Several board members volunteered their time and spent several hours displaying all the manners of pleasant and perfect hosts and hostesses.

Dinner was served to about 60 individuals, with enough leftovers for free sandwiches to be given out at the HBPA office for the next two days. The board received may compliments over the meal and had a great time serving others.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Smarty Jones, John Servis, and Someday Farms for their outstanding performance at the Kentucky Derby. Good luck in the next leg of the Triple Crown. Go Pennsylvania!

The 2003 racing year came to a close with trainer Harry Thompson leading the standings. Thompson ended the year with 172 wins from 809 starts.

Bruce Kravets followed in the standings, with a 19% win average and 140 trips to the winner’s circle. Jose Martinez rounded out the top three with 47% in the money and 120 wins from 666 starters.

The riders were also very busy, with David Cora leading the standings with 233 wins from 1,164 mounts. Thomas Clifton finished second with 186 wins, and Emilio Flores finished third with 171 wins.

Our Preciousmoments won the vote as Penn National’s 2003 Horse of the Year. Owned by Donald Gogluizza and trained by Harry Thompson, Our Preciousmoments ran 16 times in 2003 and had five wins, two second place finishes, and one third place finish. Her total earnings were $61,042 at the conclusion of the year.

Tigressbythetail was runner-up in Horse of the Year voting, and Testy Guy was third.

The racing community has been blessed with the addition of Chaplain Charles Patane of the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America. He is an accomplished horseman and has served at several racetracks along the East Coast. He and wife Salame currently reside in Grantville.

Chaplain Patane, with his council of volunteers, has begun a variety of programs and activities on the backside. Some of these programs include the Winner’s Circle 12 Step Program, and GED and ESL classes. Children’s programs have included a summer Bible school and Saturday morning programs. Other activities have included various sport activities, picnics, free meals every Monday night, weekly trips to Wal-Mart, Sunday worship service, and various counseling services. Chaplain Patane also does a backside daily devotional and a jockey’s room time of prayer.

President John Wames began the meeting by reviewing the agenda: slots, contract, and Freedom Park.

Pennsylvania HBPA lobbyist Rocco Pugliese of Pugliese Associates was introduced to update the slots issue. He explained that the governor is in need of billions of dollars of revenue in order to deliver his promised property tax cuts. Money is also needed for the budget and the funding of the many programs. Key Senators that control a majority of the votes are holding out to secure certain favors before endorsing the slots. He also reported that the horseman cannot affect the process at this point, but it is important to remain vigilant to protect the horsemen’s interests.

The horsemen have made numerous friends in the various legislative offices, and they have been thankful for the information and the numbers provided by this HBPA. This information was used to write the legislation. Rocco also pointed out that he did not believe anything would happen before March. If slots legislation was not passed by then, it would not be acted upon until after the primary elections in May.

Our current contract with Penn National Gaming has been extended 90 days, or until March 31. Negotiations have been concerned with monetary and non-monetary issues. A major concern is the control of the simulcasting racing signal. Simulcasting represents about 85% of our mutual handle, and we believe we own it in partnership and deserve an equal voice in its dissemination. This becomes even more important with the rise of racing cartels such as Churchill Downs and Magna Entertainment Corp.

Former Pennsylvania HBPA president and board member Joe Santanna presented Freedom Park to the horsemen at the general membership meeting in January. All of the paperwork is completed and has been submitted for the racing commission’s consideration for the remaining track license.

The idea is novel and unprecedented: a racetrack with $1 million per day in purses owned and controlled by horsemen - no operators. This “state of the art” facility will focus on racing, with multiple tracks, both dirt and turf, and an impressive backside complete with luxury facilities. Freedom Park's novel and unique facility and management by the horseman make it one of a kind in the state and the country.

As the last issue of The Horseman’s Journal was being published, we were electing a new board of directors. The votes have been counted, and the new board is busy at work.

In an effort to keep our membership informed, the Pennsylvania HBPA has published its first newsletter. We are quite proud of our literary skills and hope to make improvements with each printing. The newsletter can be obtained at the Pennsylvania HBPA office or through your Penn National trainer.

Other pressing issues are those of slots and contract negotiations. Your new board includes: President John Wames; Owner Directors Ken Bowman, Donald Brown, Tom McClay, Elizabeth Ricker and Dennis Sweigart; and Trainer Directors Todd Beattie, Tina Deibler, Mike Salvaggio, Tim Shea and Flint Stites.

We all have had our minds wonder and think, “whatever happened to …?”

Montie Eagle answers that question for Little Falls, a longshot horse on a dry track and a Penn National racing favorite in the rain. This is her tribute to Little Falls:

• Little Falls – A Remembrance

The word Thoroughbred denotes more than a breed, but also the qualities you always hope to find in the horse you just purchased - qualities of speed and nobility and, if you are very fortunate, kindness. This is a story about a horse that’s life exemplified those qualities in every way.

I purchased Little Falls from Pat and Richard Eichhorn after the gelded son of Big Brave out of Cinnamon Alice had won 16 races from 102 starts. From the day I brought him home from the track to my small dressage stable, I always said an infant could have crawled into his stall and been completely safe.

The week I was negotiating his purchase was also the week a close friend died. George Osmond had been an officer in the Royal Bengal Lancers and had ridden a war charger in the campaign of Mesopotamia. I had met George when he was staying at a local nursing home and I was working as a freelance journalist-photographer. This is how Little Falls was given the show ring name English Hero.

I couldn’t put in a book everything Hero taught me during our almost 18 years together. A springy mover with incredible suspension, especially in his trot, he was also extremely perceptive, and I found as the years passed and our relationship matured so that I could ride him with mental cues.

He and I showed for years in Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. Three times, we went to the home of the United States Equestrian Team in Gladstone, New Jersey to compete in the teams’ competition. Once, we went there to ride in a clinic given by Olympian Lendon Gray.

But the highlights of our times together were clinics we rode in taught by former head rider Karl Mikolka of the Spanish Riding School. One day when Karl worked with us in piaffe, we also rode the levade, one of the airs above the ground.

Throughout, Hero was always the soundest and most generous of horses. In later years, he allowed some of my students to experience some of what he knew. Several times, we rode exhibitions for one of the local nursing homes, which would bring vanloads of residents to the farm.

On a beautiful, calm and sunlit day late this November, we gave Hero a champion’s burial on the farm. He was covered with a custom made cooler, hundreds of show ring ribbons, and 18 red roses, one for every year we shared.

It was the anniversary of George Osmond’s birthday.

Little Falls was a credit to all those who groomed and handled him at the track. To his trainers Tom Lingenfelter and Bill Henry, his grooms Tim Barr, Kelly Smith, Sylvia Bell, and all the others, I give my heartfelt thanks.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, at a Jan. 27 news conference, said he was tired of the legislature's inability to pass a gambling was fashioning his own bill to authorize slot machines at 12 locations in the state. Rendell's plan would allow slot machines at eight racetracks and four other venues, and each would operate initially with 3,000 machines. After one year, a yet-to-be formed Gaming Control Board could approve an increase of 2,000 machines per venue.

The plan calls for 18% of slots revenue to go to purses, and 46% to track owners or owners of the non-track slots parlors.

"The time for talking, the time for individuals to drag their heels and say, 'I want this!' is over," the governor said of holdout lawmakers at the news conference. "We must pass this legislation and we must pass it in February."

Rendell's bill does not include a provision for Indian gaming, because there is already a federal provision in place for Indian tribes to pursue casino ownership, he said. Recently, efforts to pass slots legislation were scuttled by Sen. Vince Fumo, who demanded the Delaware Indians be given at least one license.

Sen. Robert Tomlinson, whose district includes Philadelphia Park, said he is pleased with Rendell's proposal but disappointed that it reduced profits from slots to communities that will host the tracks and casinos. Tomlinson said he would demand 2% of the slots profit for host communities, 1% for the host county, and another 1% towns that surround the host community.

Rendell proposes giving host communities 1% the revenue, and another 1% would go to the state Department of Community Development, where it would be given out in grants to the host community and surrounding area. Rendell also proposes that each of the four non-racetrack gambling venues pay a $75-million license fee.

Philadelphia would get two casinos, Pittsburgh would get one, and the Gaming Control Board would select the fourth location. Each of the eight racetracks would pay a $50-million licensing fee to have slots.

Pennsylvania currently has four operating tracks: Philly Park, Penn National Race Course, The Meadows, and the Downs at Pocono. Tracks planned for Chester and Erie have been licensed but not built, and state regulators are in the process of reviewing more license applications.

Copyright © 2004 The Blood-Horse, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

By the time this article is read, the Pennsylvania HBPA will have a newly elected Board of Directors in place. The counting of the ballots will have taken place on November 10th and the new Board will have taken office on Monday, November 17. The spring issue will contain the results of the fall election.

We continue to advance the visibility and the viability of Freedom Park as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania continues its consideration of slot machines at racetracks.

We have made 29 public presentations of the Freedom Park concept to a variety of Lehigh Valley business organizations, community groups, County/Township/Boro/Town Boards of Supervisors and Councils, Pennsylvania State Senators, Representatives, Caucus Leaders, and the Governor’s Office.

Our concept remains unique as the only business plan that intends to invest all operator profits back into the Pennsylvania horse racing industry. Our location has been validated as a significant “slot tax revenue” generator for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

We have over 40 letters of support that have been sent to the State Horse Racing Commission endorsing Freedom Park’s license application.

We will continue to promote our goal of creating a Thoroughbred racetrack in Pennsylvania that will pay average daily purses of $1 million during a 100-day meet. We are driven by the saying, “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” Our effort is not only for the Pennsylvania HBPA, but also for horsemen across America.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell told attendees at the Racino 2003 Global Conference at Mountaineer Race Track in Chester, West Virginia, on Wednesday that expanded gaming could be coming to racetracks in his state in the near future.

The keynote speaker of the conference, Rendell said Pennsylvania is losing too much revenue when state residents go to West Virginia and other states to gamble on slot machines or video lottery terminals.

"It makes no sense for all of that wagering to take place and for Pennsylvania not to get any revenue from it," said Rendell, who noted that residents of his state spent $4.7-billion on wagering and gaming-related activity outside the state while 2.7-million residents went to racetracks in Delaware, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Delaware and West Virginia racetracks offer expanded gaming.

Rendell thinks Pennsylvania lawmakers could approve expanded gaming legislation by Chri