Letter to the Editor: Bob Hutt, Part Two

Pennsylvania's Governor Wolf hosts a radio show in which he answers questions from his constituency. I sent the following question, which he failed to address.

“Dear Governor Wolf, Have you thought about the potential ramifications of your proposal to raid the protected horse racing and breeding fund that you signed into law back in 2017? If so, how do you explain the loss of 20,000 jobs and an industry that has a $1.6-billion economic impact and contributes $68 million in taxes annually? Thank You.”

I would like everyone who loves and supports horse racing and breeding all across the United States as well as abroad to know, that if it can happen here in Pennsylvania, it can happen where you reside too. We need everyone that loves our industry to speak out in one voice. The PHBA, PTHA as well as many other fine organizations, Senators, and lobbying groups have all joined forces in opposing Governor Wolf's proposal to raid the Horsemen's Protected Trust Fund. If we're to be successful, we require our entire industry to do our small part in sending a message to Governor Wolf loud and clear.

In the Court of Public Opinion that all politicians love to play, Governor Wolf has totally misrepresented the facts. He's implied we are all wealthy owners and breeders. In Kentucky, stallions command hundreds of thousands of dollars for stud fees. In Pennsylvania, our highest-priced stallion stands for $5,000 with most other stallions standing for much less. We only have slightly more than 650 broodmares in the entire state. Most horsemen struggle day to day just to make ends meet. Yet Governor Wolf deftly has asked the public which is more important (a) funding wealthy horse owners, or (b) education? He's deliberately deceived the public by “implying” these funds are collected tax revenues which they most definitely are not! Permit me to explain.
The truth is, in Pennsylvania we're not wealthy, far from it. We're hard–working men and women of modest means that have literally devoted a lifetime to the profession we love! The money the Governor seeks to raid belongs to the Pennsylvania Horsemen.

Governor Wolf is trying to redirect/steal these funds, for choice of a better word, to fund education. It certainly is a noble cause, but you don't act recklessly at the expense of 20,000 hard working people.

Permit me to provide some history. Horse racing was the only form of legalized gambling permitted in Pennsylvania. The casino industry then asked the horsemen's permission, which is required, to authorize casino gambling into Pennsylvania. In exchange for the horsemen granting permission, we were forever guaranteed a percentage of the casino revenues–not tax money.
Horse racing did express our concerns in that by allowing the casino industry into Pennsylvania, they would in effect, become our chief competitor for our valued customers. So by the casinos giving horse racing a percentage of revenues we placed that money into our protected horse fund. We became direct business partners with the casino industry. Furthermore, there's a stipulation that reads, without horse racing there cannot be any casinos in Pennsylvania. Governor Wolf is fully aware of these provisions as he approved the deal and signed it into law back in 2017.

So, now fast forward a short three years to 2020. After the fact, Governor Wolf, without warning or discussion, has now reneged on his word as he proposes to raid the Pennsylvania Horsemen money. That's $200 million, the very lifeblood that Pennsylvania horsemen need to survive. Governor Wolf, if successful, is essentially condemning horse racing and breeding into oblivion. He would effectively put horse racing and breeding in Pennsylvania out of business while sending many of us, without other job skills, to the unemployment line. If permitted to happen here, then what's to stop another politician from pulling the same stunt where you live?

As I hope you can see, no matter what industry you're in, we're all affected by Governor Wolf's irresponsible actions.

Pennsylvania's equine industry has a $1.6-billion economic impact to the State of Pennsylvania. We also contribute $68 million dollars annually in taxes. At stake is the potential loss of over 20,000 jobs as well as the spill over trickle down affect to other industries and jobs that are just not limited to Pennsylvania. What Governor Wolf is trying to do, without rhyme or reason, could potentially be catastrophic. At this time, we need everyone to step up and express your moral outrage at this travesty of injustice.

Please join with us and click here to send your message loud and clear to Governor Wolf's office. On behalf of all horsemen, I thank you.