A Halt To Horse Racing in PA?

[Shemp Howard]

Angela Couloumbis and Ben Finley, Inquirer Staff Writers

Last updated: Thursday, October 22, 2015, 7:25 PM
Posted: Thursday, October 22, 2015, 2:00
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The Wolf administration on Thursday threatened to shut down horse racing statewide as soon as next week if the industry doesn't start to shoulder millions of dollars in regulation costs.

A spokesman for Gov. Wolf cited a decrease in wagering at the tracks and the ongoing budget stalemate. But the threat of a shutdown was also a bid to get lawmakers to quickly pass a controversial bill that offers long-term fixes, including having the industry take over the cost of drug-testing, which runs about $9 million annually.

"It wasn't an ultimatum - it was a hard truth," the spokesman, Jeff Sheridan, said in an email. "If there is not a solution by next Friday ... we will be forced to shut down horse racing." What was unclear was how long a shutdown might last and how it might impact the casinos that operate alongside the state's six racetracks and the 23,000 jobs they generate.








Industry leaders said they had been in private talks with the administration, but were blindsided by news that a deal needs to be hammered out



http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20151023_A_halt_to_horse_racing_in_Pa__.htm

[Dr Gonzo]

There are many Amish farms in Pennsylvania that could use plow horses.

[NorCalGreg]

It probably won't impact the casinos at all (shutting down horse racing). Business as usual for them.

[tanner12oz]

He always wanted to try his hand at Tampa Bay. If so he would starve.

all kinds if talk in pa about expanded gaming to generate tax revenue as of late

[proximity]

wells maybe they should shut it down forever and then maybe Pennsylvania horseplayers will be able to get respectable rebates again like players in a lot of states that don't even have racing can? :faint:

how many times was Pennsylvania racing warned on here to use the good fortune of slots to develop a fan base instead of destroying one?

player "rewards" :rolleyes: don't budge an inch at penn national and even with the racino they still have the stones to charge $2.29+tax for a small cup of coffee??

posts here have been edited and deleted? wells I didn't see those sections but I can take an educated guess at the content. and it should never be forgotten that said individual prided himself in LAUGHING at this great paceadvantage forum.

wells who is laughing now?

[thaskalos]

When it was ultimately decided that this new racino revenue was to be used for the growth and advancement of this game...how was this message delivered to the racetracks and the horsemen? Because it appears that none of them got the message.

[pandy]

wells maybe they should shut it down forever and then maybe Pennsylvania horseplayers will be able to get respectable rebates again like players in a lot of states that don't even have racing can? :faint:

how many times was Pennsylvania racing warned on here to use the good fortune of slots to develop a fan base instead of destroying one?

player "rewards" :rolleyes: don't budge an inch at penn national and even with the racino they still have the stones to charge $2.29+tax for a small cup of coffee??

posts here have been edited and deleted? wells I didn't see those sections but I can take an educated guess at the content. and it should never be forgotten that said individual prided himself in LAUGHING at this great paceadvantage forum.

wells who is laughing now?


I can't remember the exact date that they starting charging ADW's the 10%, but I'd like to see stats on how the racing industry in PA. did after that fee was added. The idea was to increase revenues by forcing bettors to bet through the state of PA, but I would have to think it backfired. I know that even though I still make some bets on Parx and Pocono harness, I cut my bets on horses racing in PA down sharply as a form of protest against them screwing me out of rebate money. It's amazing, something comes along that induces horse players to bet much more money, rebates, and the racing industry tries to eliminate it.

[burnsy]

I take crap here about my rants, but this is why I have them. Other people cite the "fluff" they read as fact. They make claims about handle, attendance and all the other crap. But here's the bottom line when a state runs horse racing. When they see no use for it and many times by that I mean once they can't steal from it........it will be gone.....just like this. Am I paranoid a little? Yes, but I'm not a fool either. Over here in NY there are dirty deals going on all over the place, beyond racing, only good things can come from them auditing themselves....yeah ok............ ;)

Here's your answer Thask, they are all taking....the horseman in the industry, the politicians, the regulators. The vultures smell the carcass and they will pick it clean. Then you got people reading Blood Horse and some of these other fine, media, publications and trying to convince people all is well and they have the players and fans covered......give me a freaking break. People actually think they care about take out, only if they can get more, the rebates, only if they can short them, the fees for everything, only if they can raise them. Then the fools read what these people want them to read or hear and they stick up for it. Propaganda is the only thing they are good at and the sham continues. They can be like Massachusetts and run a scam three day meet just to keep a casino license....even the rules are a laugher and make no sense, but I guess that's just me. NY is letting Aqueduct go to 4 days which in a way is good. But wait until they go to a 4, 3, 2, 1 plan...... :lol: But hey, handle and attendance is up at Saratoga and Del Mar........ :lol: Nothing wrong with horse racing..... :lol:

[Redboard]

This is part of the state budget impasse (PA has been without a budget for 4 months) and the typical Republican/Democrat political stuff that's common across the country. The new governor, Tom Wolf, is a democrat.

Pennsylvania's new fiscal year started July 1 without a spending plan in place after Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the entire budget bill passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly. Republican legislative leaders had unveiled a $30.18 billion budget June 26. The bill was passed by the state House the next day, and the state Senate approved it June 30. That night, Wolf vetoed the entire bill, as he promised he would.

Republicans have said their plan would increase education funding, while not raising taxes. It included public pension reform. Their plan did not include a severance tax on natural gas drilling, which was a key part of Wolf's campaign for governor. Wolf has said the GOP-backed budget wouldn't do enough to increase education funding and is balanced with one-time revenue and gimmicks. He is not in favor of the Republicans' pension reform plan.


Read more:
http://www.ydr.com/politics/ci_28485390/2015-pennsylvania-budget-impasse-news-information

[forced89]

Politicians have ruined racing in Texas and Illinois. Why should Pennsylvania be any different?

[burnsy]

Politicians have ruined racing in Texas and Illinois. Why should Pennsylvania be any different?


Exactly right, or NY for that matter........its probably coming soon enough. Its a political "pawn"....most of them don't give a crap about the game. Some would actually love to see it go.

[thaskalos]

Exactly right, or NY for that matter........its probably coming soon enough. Its a political "pawn"....most of them don't give a crap about the game. Some would actually love to see it go.
Horse racing has lost its bargaining power with the politicians, burnsy...but the racing industry hasn't realized this yet. The politicians have an insatiable appetite for cash...but that cash is more readily available from the casinos than it is from our favorite game...which cannot get its act together, even as grave danger to its survival looms. It used to be that the racing industry could bluff its way through by constantly reminding the politicians of the thousands of people who are employed in horse racing, and the adverse financial effect that the unemployment of these people would bring to the different states...but, with the rapid expansion of casino gambling in recent years, this constant reminder/threat is starting to fall on deaf ears.

I kid you not...the politicians are watching the rapid expansion of fantasy sports...and they are salivating at the thought that the different sports leagues in this country will finally come to their senses and embrace the legalization of sports betting in all its glory. And when this occurs...that will be the final nail in horse racing's coffin. The new NBA commissioner is already out there trumpeting the message that sports betting is a necessary move for the "globalization" of the NBA...and you can bet your bottom dollar that this message is not being ignored by the other major sports leagues in this country.

It used to be that the horse racing industry had "clout" with the politicians in this country...but those days are dead and gone. Political clout follows the deep pockets, and today...these deep pockets belong to someone else.

[thespaah]

all kinds if talk in pa about expanded gaming to generate tax revenue as of late
PA is already at near saturation in terms of gaming venues.
There are casinos in every major PA population center.
The only areas where casinos are not located is the North Central ( Williamsport/ State College) area
Williamsport is in close proximity to PA's oil and gas fracking areas. Plenty of high income people there. State College is more or less disqualified as I believe the last thing needed in a major college town is a gambling casino.
That said, I wonder where the expansion can happen...
One other item. I was under impression that race tracks could not offer casino type gaming unless the facility conducted an extended pari mutuel horse racing meeting.
So if a racetrack shuts down racing, would not the license to offer casino gaming go dark as well?

[proximity]

I take crap here about my rants, but this is why I have them. Other people cite the "fluff" they read as fact. They make claims about handle, attendance and all the other crap. But here's the bottom line when a state runs horse racing. When they see no use for it and many times by that I mean once they can't steal from it........it will be gone.....just like this. Am I paranoid a little? Yes, but I'm not a fool either. Over here in NY there are dirty deals going on all over the place, beyond racing, only good things can come from them auditing themselves....yeah ok............ ;)

Here's your answer Thask, they are all taking....the horseman in the industry, the politicians, the regulators. The vultures smell the carcass and they will pick it clean.


one of the things michael gill is saying is that ed rendell actually owned horses under someone else's name. so the short fields, the creation of presque isle,.....

[proximity]

PA is already at near saturation in terms of gaming venues.
There are casinos in every major PA population center.
The only areas where casinos are not located is the North Central ( Williamsport/ State College) area
Williamsport is in close proximity to PA's oil and gas fracking areas. Plenty of high income people there. State College is more or less disqualified as I believe the last thing needed in a major college town is a gambling casino.
That said, I wonder where the expansion can happen...
One other item. I was under impression that race tracks could not offer casino type gaming unless the facility conducted an extended pari mutuel horse racing meeting.
So if a racetrack shuts down racing, would not the license to offer casino gaming go dark as well?

the public will never allow the casino to be closed. they can be turned against racing however, and this can be done easily. (and to an extent, is)

but racing doesn't like to blame themselves. instead racing will blame bad people like proximity for coming on the internet and pointing out that 40% trainers aren't a naturally occurring phenomenon. like the casinos, politicians, and general public can't figure this out for themselves? they like to sweep any "problems" under the rug. business as usual.

i think the next casino will be a philly live! by the sports complex?