Wolf administration cites continued progress in horse, harness racing negotiations
November 13, 2015,from the PA Department of Agriculture
Harrisburg, PA — Talks between the Wolf administration and leaders of the General Assembly continued to yield progress this week on how to correct a long-standing structural deficit in the State Racing Fund, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said today.
As a result of that progress and in light of an expected vote on Senate Bill 352 next week by the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Secretary Redding said the administration has decided to defer any decision on the suspension of live racing in Pennsylvania.
Commenting on the state of negotiations, Secretary Redding offered the following statement:
“This week’s talks continued to produce positive steps forward. I appreciate the commitment by the chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and legislative leaders to schedule a committee vote in the House on Senate Bill 352. We continue to build on the framework agreement reached last week on that bill. No one is getting everything they want in this bill, but it will give us the long-term financial fix we need to maintain the integrity of this industry and the tools we need to modernize it for the first time in decades.
“We’ll keep working with the General Assembly in the coming days to put the finishing touches on the bill so a long-term solution can be enacted in the very near future. We appreciate the engagement and work of the agriculture committee chairs in both chambers — Senators Vogel and Schwank and state Representatives Causer and Carroll.
“Pennsylvania’s equine industry is an important part of the state’s agriculture sector. Preserving live horse and harness racing is imperative to keep this industry thriving. That was part of the rationale for legalizing gaming and casinos in Pennsylvania in 2004. We’re going to stand behind that commitment.”
- Pennsylvania racing may be shut down next week (Thursday, October 22, 2015)
The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that due to a decrease in wagering and the ongoing budget stalemate, Gov. Wolf may halt horse racing statewide as soon as next week.
- Horse racing, PA officials work to solve deficit (Saturday, October 24, 2015)
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that a meeting between officials with the state Department of Agriculture and representatives of horse racing in Pennsylvania made “significant progress” Friday toward solving a budget shortfall and avoiding a threatened shutdown of the industry.
- PA horse racing budget talks to resume Tuesday (Monday, October 26, 2015)
Negotiations are set to resume Tuesday over how to keep horse racing open for business in Pennsylvania, a challenge that came in the wake of Gov. Wolf’s threat last week to shutter race tracks if the industry fails to shoulder the costs of regulation.
- Update regarding potential suspension of PA racing (Thursday, October 29, 2015)
Last week, state officials announced that the financial health of the Pennsylvania Racing Fund was declining and had reached a point where it could no longer sustain or protect the integrity of the racing industry.
- Pennsylvania officials reach agreement on future of PA racing (Friday, November 06, 2015)
After two weeks of negotiations over the fate of Pennsylvania harness racing, the Gov. Tom Wolf administration and the four legislative caucuses tonight (Nov. 6) reached an agreement in concept on how to fix a long-standing structural deficit in the State Racing Fund. The deal reflects significant compromise on the part of all of the parties, as well as the other stakeholders, including horsemen and breeder organizations and race track operators.