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“In his budget address, Governor Corbett said a top priority was job creation, but this budget gimmick will costs thousands of Pennsylvanians in the agriculture and service industries their jobs,” said Salvatore M. DeBunda, Esquire, President of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association, who noted the job loss projections were based on an economic impact study prepared by The Innovation Group in 2011. “These cuts will discourage continued investment in our state, resulting in the loss of precious open space now being used by horse farms.”
“The timing couldn't be worse as the New York breeding program is attracting horsemen from across the country due to the introduction of slots in October of 2011. If the proposed budget is adopted, it will result in horsemen leaving the state and a subsequent loss in jobs,” said Jeb Hannum, Executive Secretary of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association. “Racing and breeding are significant economic drivers in the state which support over 20,000 jobs. This is a $1 billion industry which supports rural communities and the state's agricultural economy. The Governor runs the risk of driving good jobs to Maryland and New York and harming Pennsylvania’s agricultural fabric as a result.”
“These cuts will only hurt efforts to jumpstart the Pennsylvania economy,” said David Prushnok, President of the Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania. “Families across the Commonwealth will see a significant loss in the amount of money they earn each year, including farmers producing feed, blacksmiths, veterinarians, trainers, groomers, and countless other Pennsylvanians who provide services to the racing and breeding industry.”
“Owners, trainers and breeders have invested millions of dollars in Pennsylvania with the legislative promise that horse racing would provide a good return on their investment,” said Kim Hankins, Executive Director of the Meadows Standarbred Owners Association. “It is unfathomable that the Governor now wants to stifle the growth of this still emerging industry that helps fund the economic impact of agriculture, the number one industry in the Commonwealth. Given the competition of West Virginia gaming and Ohio gaming on the horizon, these cuts in the Race Horse Development Fund will be disastrous to racing at the Meadows.”
“When the legislature legalized gaming in Pennsylvania, their primary stated goals were to save the horse racing and breeding industry, boost the state’s agricultural sector, and provide for the health and pension benefits of trainers and other employed by the industry,” said DeBunda, whose organization -- the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association -- represents the owners and trainers at Parx Racetrack. “At Parx Racing alone, we estimate an $80,000 decrease in the purses awarded per day, a substantial reduction in breeder awards for Pennsylvania-breds, and a significant reduction in health and pension benefits for our members, all of which will negatively impact the Pennsylvania economy. These cuts will discourage owners, trainers, and jockeys from continuing to participate in the Pennsylvania horse racing industry and could jeopardize the continuation of the Pennsylvania Derby and the Cotillion Stakes, which was recently named Pennsylvania’s first and only Grade I Stakes race.”
A study prepared by The Innovation Group found that every $1 in direct spending within the racing industry equates to $2.13 in total spending within the Pennsylvania economy, resulting in an annual state economic impact of $490 million.
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