Letter to the Editor: Bob Hutt

Dear Editor:

Thank you for your article keeping the pressure up on Governor Wolf, as his timing could not be any worse. Who is going to breed to Pennsylvania stallions this season with this sword hanging over our heads? You would think as governor he would have at least taken into consideration that breeding season is only from February 15 to May 31. By acting irresponsibly, Governor Wolf has absolutely destroyed the 2020 Pennsylvania breeding season, regardless of whether his proposal is defeated, which it most certainly should be. I would hope that our lobbying groups would act immediately to get an injunction to save 2020.

Governor Wolf has demonstrated a reckless abandonment toward his loyal constituents. No responsible leader, let alone a governor, would ever hurt those that elected him without first ascertaining the ramifications of his actions. If passed, it would totally destroy an agricultural industry that contributes $1.6 billion dollars to the Pennsylvania economy. And it extends far beyond just Pennsylvania. How about the magazine and advertising industry? Tell me who's going to be able to afford to advertise without results? People in the magazine and advertising industry will lose their jobs as well. How about manufacturers of farm and equine equipment, feed companies, veterinarians, transportation, insurance companies, etc. Yes, this extends far beyond just the Pennsylvania agricultural community. I can't believe the outcry isn't louder, as business and jobs throughout the entire United States are threatened by Governor Wolf's actions.

Furthermore, the public must be made aware that without the breeding and horse racing industry making concessions to allow casino gaming, there wouldn't even be any casinos. The horsemen knew they would suffer when agreeing to have licenses granted to casinos,  as both groups compete for the same customer. We were assured by our legislators that we would always be protected. I guess the word “always” has a different connotation for Governor Wolf?

Now here we go again after living this nightmare as recently as 2017. Just when Pennsylvania was making great strides in expanding breeding to our great state, without warning, he pulls the rug out from under us. Jesse James had nothing up on Governor Wolf. If he can “steal/rob” from our “protected fund” because that's exactly what it is; highway robbery in broad daylight, ask yourself this? What's to prevent Governor Wolf from doing the same or worse to any other industry/small business? Because that's what most horsemen are–small businessmen. Most struggle to eke out a living, but we do it because of our love for the game. No promise, no agreement this Governor makes ever again can be trusted.

Basically Governor Wolf can't balance his own checkbook so he must steal from hard-working people to cover up for his own incompetency. Is this how he balances his budget? We, as horsemen, act responsibly and don't overextend ourselves. But through the governor's action, he doesn't have to answer to anybody for his overspending. So his reply is to kill an industry we've spent a lifetime to build. Without the horsemen there wouldn't be any casinos or our fund to raid.

The governor has misrepresented to the good citizens of Pennsylvania that horsemen are wealthy in order to further his cause using “class warfare” to alienate the public against us.  The public must be made aware that this is patently false!   Perhaps in Kentucky where top stallions command hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, here in Pennsylvania, our top stallions stand for $5,000. Most stallion owners are lucky if they get 15 to 20 broodmares to breed to their stallion at a stud fee of $2,500 or less. Does that sound like wealthy owners? I think not.

Tens of thousands of hard-working men and women with average to below-average median income will lose their jobs. Some that grow hay, alfalfa and feed will lose their farms overnight. Stallion farms will go the way of the dinosaurs. Most of these agricultural people are middle aged or older and do not have other necessary skills to be absorbed into the workforce.  Agriculture and horses are all they know. What happens to them? The hit to the agricultural community would be devastating. I find it difficult to believe that the governor and his staff did not do their due diligence and research this before making this ill-advised proposal. All of us in every industry must speak out in one voice to let Governor Wolf know we will not go quietly into that good night. This is a fight we must win! We must all stand together!  Thank you.

Regards

Bob Hutt