Harrah's Philadelphia license suspended

[Al Gobbi]

no exact reasoning given.

http://www.harnessracing.com/news/harrahsphiladelphiasracelicensesuspended.html

[LottaKash]

Odd that no specifics were mentioned...I am curious tho...:confused:

[lamboguy]

does that mean they can't open the slot parlor either?

[Just a Fan]

No inside info, but I would guess it has something to do with the condition of the racetrack (the racing surface).

[my_nameaintearl]

State regulators Thursday suspended harness racing at a suburban Philadelphia casino, saying it had failed to resolve problems with the track’s surface.

Meeting in Hershey, the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission took action against Harrah’s Philadelphia Racetrack and Casino.

The track’s 2014 racing season is scheduled to begin March 8, but regulators say Harrah’s has repeatedly failed to tell them how they plan to address problems with the track.

Drivers have complained about the track’s condition, especially in the wake of a serious crash in November in which a driver was thrown from his sulky and trampled by another horse when he landed.

The harness racing commission, which is part of the state Department of Agriculture, issued an order that said Harrah’s 2014 racing schedule will be suspended until the track complies with its demand for information.

Harrah’s officials did not immediately return messages from The Associated Press.

It wasn’t immediately clear what impact, if any, the commission’s suspension order will have on Harrah’s casino license. Under Pennsylvania law, the state’s five racetrack casino operators are required to maintain a “written live racing agreement with a horsemen’s organization” as a condition of their gaming licenses.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which regulates the casino industry, “will continue to monitor the matter closely,” spokesman Doug Harbach said.

[cmp92]

State regulators Thursday suspended harness racing at a suburban Philadelphia casino, saying it had failed to resolve problems with the track’s surface.

Meeting in Hershey, the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission took action against Harrah’s Philadelphia Racetrack and Casino.

The track’s 2014 racing season is scheduled to begin March 8, but regulators say Harrah’s has repeatedly failed to tell them how they plan to address problems with the track.

Drivers have complained about the track’s condition, especially in the wake of a serious crash in November in which a driver was thrown from his sulky and trampled by another horse when he landed.

The harness racing commission, which is part of the state Department of Agriculture, issued an order that said Harrah’s 2014 racing schedule will be suspended until the track complies with its demand for information.

Harrah’s officials did not immediately return messages from The Associated Press.

It wasn’t immediately clear what impact, if any, the commission’s suspension order will have on Harrah’s casino license. Under Pennsylvania law, the state’s five racetrack casino operators are required to maintain a “written live racing agreement with a horsemen’s organization” as a condition of their gaming licenses.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which regulates the casino industry, “will continue to monitor the matter closely,” spokesman Doug Harbach said.
In the aftermath of the Coletta accident and the recent wreck at Freehold, track conditions had to be the likely point of contention.

[pandy]

The license is not suspended. The 2014 racing dates haven't been approved due to the track condition.

[upthecreek]

The license is not suspended. The 2014 racing dates haven't been approved due to the track condition.


Local CBS station reporting their license is SUSPENDED til they provide a plan detailing their track resurfacing efforts.

[my_nameaintearl]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lawyers for a New Jersey man left incapacitated when he was thrown from his sulky during a harness race in Pennsylvania will be allowed on the property to inspect track conditions.

Anthony Coletta suffered permanent brain damage and other serious injuries during a November race at Harrah’s Philadelphia in the city of Chester. He is living in a rehabilitation facility.

State regulators have suspended harness racing at the track, saying Harrah’s failed to resolve problems with the surface. Drivers have complained about the track’s condition.

Family lawyer Michael Barrett says a judge Thursday gave his firm until Feb. 21 to inspect the track. He says Harrah’s did not object to the motion.

Larry Kelly, a lawyer for Harrah’s, declined comment on the case.

http://www.delcotimes.com/sports/20140130/lawyers-for-injured-harrahs-driver-want-access-to-info-on-track

[Stillriledup]

So, Harrah's has slots and they are a gaming company....how is it in their benefit that someone sues them for something that their harness track did? Would it be beneficial for this harness track to essentially "go away" while Harrah's gets to keep their slot machines?

Isnt that what they want?

[LottaKash]

So, Harrah's has slots and they are a gaming company....how is it in their benefit that someone sues them for something that their harness track did? Would it be beneficial for this harness track to essentially "go away" while Harrah's gets to keep their slot machines?

Isnt that what they want?

SRU, in lite of the latest news out of Harrisburg concerning the fate of the Horse-Game in PA, and it's future, I strongly suspect that you are correct....I believe that it will "go away" and very soon....It may well be that they won't even bother to make an investment of redoing their track surface, and that will end it all for harness racing at Chester...

The future for PA racing is getting uglier with each passing day....

I strongly believe that this is only the beginning, even nationwide, for the suspected "shaking out" of racing's new future in North America....It has to start somewhere, and PA is the starting point in the states imo, and it has already started in Ontario...

[Stillriledup]

SRU, in lite of the latest news out of Harrisburg concerning the fate of the Horse-Game in PA, and it's future, I strongly suspect that you are correct....I believe that it will "go away" and very soon....It may well be that they won't even bother to make an investment of redoing their track surface, and that will end it all for harness racing at Chester...

The future for PA racing is getting uglier with each passing day....

I strongly believe that this is only the beginning, even nationwide, for the suspected "shaking out" of racing's new future in North America....It has to start somewhere, and PA is the starting point in the states imo, and it has already started in Ontario...

The best thing that can happen to these people is if the state of PA lets them keep their slots while not having to actually have a racetrack. That's what they want all along.

[LottaKash]

The best thing that can happen to these people is if the state of PA lets them keep their slots while not having to actually have a racetrack. That's what they want all along.

Well, at least we still have the good ole SRU-Downs....:jump:

[badcompany]

Can I claim victory?

http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83297&highlight=Chester

[Stillriledup]

Well, at least we still have the good ole SRU-Downs....:jump:

We do! :jump:

[Just a Fan]

Lotta, BC, and SRU - Look what Harrah's is trying to do with their dog track in Iowa (the link is from this month, but Harrah's has been trying this for several years now). This should be of grave concern to the horsemen at Harrah's Philly.


http://www.nonpareilonline.com/news/local/push-is-on-to-stop-greyhound-racing-in-iowa/article_4458b149-e44b-5d10-8095-9cc96edb0122.html


I don't see much of Harrah's Philly, but I bet the QH's at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, and they put the least amount of effort into promoting their live product as any track I've ever seen. Zero effort to make the simulcast production interesting, no handicapping advice, an unmanned, stationary camera showing the horses occasionally walking in and out of the shot in the paddock, the announcer doesn't bother learning how to pronounce local horsemen's names, gives little warning that post time is approaching, and doesn't even announce the results of photos and inquiries, while he's tweeting all day long about racing at Gulfstream and anywhere other than LaD. They completely mail it in, thank their lucky stars every day that they have slots, and like Meat Loaf, are "praying for the end of time to hurry up and arrive" to end the marriage with horse racing.

[badcompany]

The horsemen are the only ones who would care if the track never raced, again.

With its high takeout and low handle, it's not a track conducive to profitable betting.

Well done on the Meatloaf reference. :ThmbUp: