HHANE responds to cancelation of Spirit of Massachusetts Trot
February 1, 2018,by Bob McHugh, president, Harness Horseman’s Association of New England
Editor’s Note: The following is a press release sent by the Harness Horsemen’s Association of New England in response to an earlier press release sent by Plainridge Park regarding the cancelation of the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot.
Plainville, MA — In reading today’s press release, Plainridge Park Casino indicated that the Spirit of Massachusetts Trot was canceled solely due to HHANE withholding consent for the race.
We would like to provide the following letter as context for this cancelation. This letter was the most recent of several offers of consent which were summarily dismissed by Plainridge Park Casino. Additionally, we also engaged in discussions to offer a festival day (Labor Day) that would have offered a Trot and Pace race, each for $50- to $100,000.
The HHANE is willing to reengage in discussion at any time to offer these races or any other that would support Plainridge Park, our members, and the industry as a whole.
- $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot canceled (Thursday, February 01, 2018)
Due to a lack of consent by the Harness Horsemen’s Association of New England, the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot will not be contested in 2018.
- Penn National Gaming Challenge Series cancelled in 2018 (Friday, February 09, 2018)
Due to the unfortunate cancellation of the two stakes races planned for Plainridge Park — The Spirit of Massachusetts Trot and The Clara Barton Pace — the Penn National Gaming Challenge Series will not be offered this year.