A promising-looking bill for racing was recently supported by a vote of 48-2 by the Pennsylvania Senate.
According to a report on PennLive.com, the bill calls for making a number of regulatory changes to the State Racing Fund. The bill would cover declining revenues and perform drug testing. The bill could result in a surplus of more than $27 million for the State Racing Fund by 2019-2020.
"It had been a long and involved process as we worked to fine tune this proposal," said Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Beaver Country. "The bottom line is that we face the real possibility of losing a multimillion dollar industry. It was imperative that we take care of the Racing Fund's current financial instability, but provide for the long-term protection of the racing industry in Pennsylvania."
The bill will also permit transfers from the Horse Racing Development Fund – which collects $250 million annually through slot machine taxes – to the State Racing Fund. Part of the slot machine taxes have paid for horse racing purses in Pennsylvania.
The bill now heads to the Pa. House of Representatives, and if approved it will then be sent to the governor.