The Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (PHBPA) has agreed in principle with the management of Penn National to resume spectator-free racing at the track prior to the opening of Hollywood Casino if Governor Tom Wolf gives approval.
“When racing resumes, our board is committed to maintaining the same daily purse structure,” Todd Mostoller, the PHBPA's executive director, wrote in a one-page memo to members issued Wednesday afternoon. “The number of days raced will be adjusted as needed.”
Mostoller added that he has received assurance from the governor's office that a meeting will take place with the PHBPA in the next several days. “We are simply waiting to hear from the governor's scheduler,” he wrote.
“A resolution was approved by our board to pay for morning training at Penn National through June 30 under the current five-day-a-week schedule,” Mostoller wrote. “We are inquiring about the increased cost of bringing back the gate crew several mornings each week to facilitate 2-year-old training.”
For both Penn National and Presque Isle Downs, the PHBPA also approved a waiver-claiming rule for horses that have not raced in 90 days. The board also passed a resolution giving entry preference to horses stabled on the backside.
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