Purse cuts are not sitting well with horsemen in Pennsylvania after the state announced it would be redirecting money intended for harness racing to the state's
general fund.
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, state lawmakers redirected 17 percent of the gambling dollars earmarked for the Race Horse Development Fund to help balance the 2009-10 budget. That cut amounted to $41 million as of June 10.
"Last year, when they were trying to meet the budget numbers, they were pulling a little bit from everywhere," said Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg. Legislative leaders "were talking about getting back into it this year."
Naturally, horsemens' representatives are not pleased.
"The slots bill was named the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, in that order," said Kim Hankins, executive director of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association.
"I would hope they wouldn't keep going back in there," said horse owner Mark Weaver of Weaver Bruscemi LLC, who has doubled both the number of horses and employees in his stable since the slots bill passed. "It's definitely more profitable as an owner, but it gets spread out. We're buying more feed. We're buying more hay. We're buying more straw. It's just much better for the area. ... All I can do is keep my fingers crossed."
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