Pennsylvania

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...

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf submitted his 2020-2021 budget Tuesday, which called for a massive cut in the amount of money that goes to horse racing from slots proceeds. Wolf is seeking to take $204 million away from the Race Horse Development Fund, which totals about $250 million. Such a move would prove devastating to racing and breeding industries, as slot money accounts for 88% of the total purses. "This scheme would destroy an industry that provides a $1.6-billion economic impact and supports an estimated 16,000 to 23,000 jobs in the...

GI Florida Derby winner Ice Box (Pulpit--Spice Island, by Tabasco Cat) has been relocated to Cabin Creek Farm in Bernville, PA for the 2020 season, where he will stand for $3,500. He previously stood at Millenium Farms in Kentucky. "We are excite to bring a Grade I winning son of Pulpit into Pennsylvania" said Cabin Creek manager Maria Vorhauer. "We are honored that Dream Walkin' Farms [Toby Keith], along with Baccari Bloodstock, Bob LaPenta, and the other syndicate partners decided to bring Ice Box to the Pennsylvania breeders and Cabin...

Desert Party (Street Cry {Ire}--Sage Cat, by Tabasco Cat), who was standing at Irish Hill Century Farm in New York, is moving to Judith Barrett's Godstone Farm in Littletown, Pennsylvania, according to stallion Manager R. A. Brooks, Jr. He will stand for a fee of $2,500, with special consideration to Pennyslvania-foaling mares and multiple mare discounts available. A $425,000 Keeneland September yearling, Desert Party topped the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Calder sale on a bid of $2.1 million and was trained by Eoin Harty to win that year's GII Sanford S. at...

MGISW Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday--Refugee, by Unaccounted For) has his first foal on the ground. The bay filly was born Jan. 14 at Peter Alafoginis's farm in Lawrenceville in north central Pennsylvania. Bred by Rick Molineaux, she is out of stakes-winning Rhythm in Shoes (by Rhythm), and is a half-sister to seven winners. Hoppertunity stands his second season at Northview Stallion Station PA for $5,000 live foal, payable when the foal stands and nurses.

A newly developed virtual reality experience that allows users to experience horse racing through the eyes of a jockey or harness driver is available to attendees of the Pennsylvania Farm Show.  The 360-degree virtual reality experience--using real video filmed during actual Thoroughbred and harness races in Pennsylvania--allows individuals wearing a virtual reality headset to look left, right, and behind them as they race against other horses toward the finish line. To complete the Thoroughbred racing experience, users can even experience the simulated virtual reality race while riding on an Equicizer,...

Bucking a nationwide trend, the number of mares bred in Pennsylvania in 2019 was 686, an increase of 12.5% over 2018.  It was the third straight year that the number of horses bred in Pennsylvania has increased. Overall, the number of mares bred in 2019 in the U.S. declined by 3.5%. The growing popularity of the Pennsylvania program is a direct result of the establishment of the Racehorse Development Fund Trust in 2017. The trust guaranteed that the government could no longer raid the Horse Racing Development Fund, which funneled...