Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course will see 16 fewer live horse races next year

Hollywood Casino requested a reduction from 150 to 134 race dates. The decision was approved at Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission’s monthly meeting in Harrisburg. Information was confirmed by Eric Johnston, director of racing operations at Penn Entertainment.

Fewer races will be connected with continuous slide-in slot machine play at Hollywood Casino and other casino that pay real money in 2022.

Slot machines revenue at Hollywood and other state’s Category 1 casinos share a dedicated percentage to the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Trust Fund, which bolsters purses monies at the state’s four racetracks.

According to Todd Mostoller, executive director of the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, more competition in the Pennsylvania gaming sector and skill games negatively influenced Hollywood’s slot revenue. Molester feels the gaming market in the Keystone State was already mature. His organization represents horse owners, trainers, and backstretch workers at Penn National Race Course.

 “There is only so much money for gambling at one’s disposal, and now they’ve legislated casinos in York and Morgantown with another coming in Shippensburg.”

Because revenue from new satellite casinos like Hollywood york and Morgantown are exempt from donating to the fund, the racetrack had to cut on the dates. Hollywood’s massive growth in online gaming and sports betting revenue streams also don’t contribute to the fund.

The fund, as we know, was set by Act 71 in 2004, and it collected $199 in 2011. Another income stream for horse racing is pari-mutuel wagers on live and simulcast races. Despite that, the funding continues to go down.

Thoroughbred horse racing at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course will operate three nights per week. Live action will be on Wednesday through Friday. However, in 2023 we will see some essential changes.

Horse track racing celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Typically, the track works year-round now and will take two breaks. There will be no races for two weeks in April, while the second four-week break will be in September and October.

Mostoller thinks the October pause will benefit the horses because of several essential Mid-Atlantic tracks running in the fall. 

Another cutback will be in the number of races per night. Instead of the usual eight races, it will be down to seven. According to Johnston, the average daily purses at Penn National Race Course will remain at $146,000 daily.

Reducing the racing calendar will affect horse owners, trainers, and jockeys. With sixteen fewer dates, they will lose $2.33 million from year-to-year. With overhead costs for stalls, employees, and supplies like feed, hay, and veterinarian service, next year will cause some serious belt-tightening for the horse racing economy in Grantville.

“They are all small businessmen back here, and it’s a big deal if there are fewer chances for revenue production. It’s not an easy deal,” Mostoller said.

Grade 2 Penn Mile is a signature event for Penn National Race Course. With a huge $400,000 purse in 2022, it has yet to be clear from an online schedule whether the June 2 race will have the same prize money pool.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf set his eyes on the Racetrack Development Fund in the last few budget cycles. He wanted the slot machines to fund a college scholarship program for low-and-moderate income families. 

State lawmakers, horse owners, and breeders fought off the attempts claiming the trust fund’s language prohibits such use by the Commonwealth.

New Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro still hasn’t spoken on that matter.