Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission Tuesday (Aug. 31) approved a request from The Meadows Racetrack & Casino to switch to a late-afternoon first post time for a two-month period in the fall as part of a broader marketing plan for racing and the facility.

From Sept. 17 through Nov. 26, first post on Fridays will be 4 p.m. rather than the standard 12:45 p.m. Eleven Fridays fall into that period.

Scott Lishia, director of racing at The Meadows, told the PHRC the facility now has a patio bar, complete with a fire pit, on the apron, and that various promotions will be scheduled in conjunction with the new post time.

“We’re going to try this, looking to capture the late-afternoon window and roll into the evening to hopefully build on weekends (at the facility),” Lishia said. “We can promote our racing a little more on the evening side and build on the weekend.”

Kim Hankins, executive director of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, said the organization supports the plan.

“We look forward to working with management to try to build our (racing) crowds,” he said.

The Meadows will continue with its Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule through Sept. 4. After a one-week break to allow for reconditioning of the racing surface, it will switch to a Tuesday-through-Friday schedule beginning Sept. 14.

The PHRC also approved a post-time change for Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack on Sept. 10, which will mark the track’s 15th anniversary. The Friday card will commence at 6 p.m. rather than 6:30 p.m. to accommodate various promotions and events throughout the evening, said Barry Brown, director of racing operations.

Mike Zullinger, director of race and sports book operations at Mohegan Sun Pocono, told commission members the Aug. 21 Sun Stakes program, raced in the afternoon for the first time, was a success. Total pari-mutuel handle of $1.057 million was about $120,000 higher than the 2019 figure and doesn’t include about $104,000 wagered in separate pools overseas, he said.