After having been sworn in as the new chairman of the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission on Monday, Jonathan Newman, who has a history in the Standardbred racing industry, presided over his first PHRC meeting Tuesday at Pocono Downs.

An article by the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader explains that Newman has owned and raced many Standardbreds, noting that the resident of Montgomery County last raced a horse at Pocono Downs seven years ago.

The article has quoted Newman as saying that last week’s findings by the state’s auditor general, Eugene DePasquale, were “unfortunate.”

Newman was also quoted as saying that, “We’re going to be particularly careful to understand those findings going forward to do things consistent with best government practices and in the best interest of horse racing.”

(With files from the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader)