The state House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee is considering a Senate bill that would make changes to Pennsylvania’s horse racing industry, many of which a spokesman said will help it.
Senate Bill 1188 would make a substantial and essential change in the state’s oversight of the horse racing industry, said sponsor Sen.Elder Vogel, R-Beaver County. The bill, unanimously approved Friday, would dissolve the State Racing and Harness Racing commissions, each with three members under the Department of Agriculture, and bring industry oversight under one independent commission. State Racing oversees Thoroughbred horses and Harness Racing oversees Standardbred.
“Basically, this legislation will bring the Race Horse Industry Reform Act into the 21st Century,” said Vogel, chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. “The act, which sets the parameters and guidelines for the oversight of the racing industries in Pennsylvania, has not beeen updated in over twenty years despite drastic changes in the way the industry is funded, raced and regulated.”
Jim Simpson, president and CEO of Hanover Shoe Farms in eastern Adams County, the world’s largest producer of Standardbred horses, said this morning he was pleased by the bill but referred comment to Pennsylvania Equine Coalition spokesman Peter Peterson.
“Overall, there’s a lot to like about the bill,” Peterson said. “We support steps the bill takes in modernizing the commission structure and ensuring there is enough money for testing and oversight of industry.”
There was some concern the new commission would move from the Department of Agriculture to the state Gaming Commission, a move the horse racing industry did not back, Peterson said.
“We’re very pleased with the Senate’s work on this and allowing and taking feedback from the industry,” he said.
There also was some concern that the random drug testing of horses would be paid for by the owner of the horse, Peterson said. That fee would be covered by the state.
“It was concerning because we may not get as many people coming in to Pennsylvania to race their horses if they have to foot a $400 bill for the chance to win few thousand dollar purse,” he said.