Deal gives horse racing another week
HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration says it’s giving another week to allow horse and harness racing in Pennsylvania now that it’s reached a preliminary agreement to underwrite the industry’s regulatory functions.
The state Department of Agriculture said Friday night that, after two weeks of negotiations, it secured concessions from horsemen, breeder organizations and race track operators to fix a long-term deficit in the State Racing Fund.
Details had yet to be finalized.
The Wolf administration warned two weeks ago the state would shut down racing because the fund was out of money and the budget stalemate prevented it from transferring money into it.
Six Pennsylvania tracks offer thoroughbred or harness racing, including The Meadows Racetrack in North Strabane Township. The fund is subsidized by a tax on wagers, which have steadily declined for years.