On Thursday, February 2, Pennsylvania’s horse racing commission voted to begin accepting applications for the state's vacant Standardbred pari-mutuel racetrack license.

As an article by Pennsylvania Agriculture Connection explains, applicants will have 120 days – beginning Feb. 15 and closing on June 14 – to file an application with the commission. After the application period, the commission will review submissions to ensure each is complete. The article states that only applications determined to be timely and complete shall move through the review/hearing process, and that the commission may reject any incomplete application it deems deficient.

The commission will then conduct a more thorough evaluation period – which could include public hearings – followed by the commission issuing and order and adjudication if it believes that granting a licence is in the best interests of racing.

To read the Pennsylvania Agriculture Connection article in its entirety, click here.

During a press conference at Hanover Shoe Farms on Thursday, January 12, Pennsylvania businessman Dave LeVan announced his intention to apply for and secure the state’s final harness racing licence and gaming licence in order to build Mason-Dixon Downs, a Standardbred racino that would be situated in Freedom Township, which is located in Adams County, close to the Maryland border. For more information, click here.

(With files from Pennsylvania Agriculture Connection)