Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission has reached an agreement with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority on its 2024 Racetrack Safety Program at the state’s three Thoroughbred tracks but as of mid-December had not finalized agreements on the HISA Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program and related laboratory services.

The PHRC most recently met Dec. 19 for its final meeting of 2023. It approved a motion to authorize staff to execute the Racetrack Safety Program agreement and to work toward finalizing the other two agreements. They are expected to be ratified at an upcoming meeting in 2024.

HISA earlier in 2023 announced a 2024 budget of about $78 million based on total racetrack assessments of $77.5 million. The final figure could drop by about $18 million based on credits for some states or tracks that handle various duties such as using their own staff for test barn operations and sample collection.

Pennsylvania’s total assessment is roughly $7 million, with $4.3 million of that assessed to Parx Racing. According to HISA documents, the state is eligible for $4.9 million in credits: $1.5 million for race-day sample collection and $3 million for laboratory and research services. The Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory is among the labs accredited and used by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit under HISA.

In other business at the Dec. 19 meeting, the PHRC hosted a presentation from the Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania on its 2023 and 2024 marketing plans. It is one of six organizations that receives a share of one percent of revenue from slot machines at most of the state’s casinos for marketing and promotional purposes.

Stu Kirshenbaum, owner and executive producer of Keystone Films, which provides services to the SBA of PA, said the efforts have been and continue to be focused on building the brand and enhancing the image of Standardbred breeding in the state and also its importance nationally and internationally. The industry accounts for job creation and has substantive economic impact on the Central Pennsylvania region, he said.

The marketing campaign includes having video crews at farms to produce advertisements and promotional materials and there are open houses at farms that continue to increase in attendance. The SBA of PA website also houses a video with a focus on the quality of care Standardbreds receive. The content receives thousands of views from domestic and international audiences, Kirshenbaum said.

Keystone Films also produces advertisements that air during coverage of major events in harness racing.

“When there is a major harness racing event we want to make sure our message and branding is part of that event,” Kirshenbaum said.

The SBA of PA is among the organizations that partners with the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association, which oversees the statewide marketing program under the PHRC. Ashley Eisenbeil, director of marketing for the PHRA, noted that the state’s three Standardbred tracks each offer free past-performance programs online every racing day as part of their individual marketing outreach programs.

The PHRA website has a section called “Wager Warriors” which offers past performances for Thoroughbred tracks, usually one day per week, and individuals can sign up to receive them via email or text. Eisenbeil said the number of downloads continues to grow for both breeds, and that the PHRA plans a study in 2024 to assess the impact the free information has on pari-mutuel handle.