The video, entitled “Save Pennsylvania Horse Racing,” can be viewed online.
The video was released as the Senate and House work to craft a state budget for Fiscal Year 2012-2013.
In February, Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget called for diverting $72 million provided by the state’s casinos and racetracks to the Race Horse Development Fund for breeders’ incentives and racing purses. Faced with the loss of up to 15,000 jobs as a result of the proposed cut, members of the Pennsylvania Equine Coalition have been working to increase the legislature’s awareness of the economic and job impacts of the horse racing industry in Pennsylvania.
The video features interviews with individuals representing a diverse cross-section of the Pennsylvania economy -- veterinarians, builders, feed producers, trainers, and real estate agents – to demonstrate the breadth of the economic impact of the horse racing industry.
“Act 71 was adopted with the goal of saving the horse racing industry, creating jobs and preserving open space,” said Pete Peterson, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Equine Coalition. “Since the legislation was adopted in 2004, Pennsylvania has experienced tens of millions of dollars in new economic investment and the creation of thousands of new jobs.
"Our goal with this video is to tell this untold economic success story in Pennsylvania and show the breadth and depth of the economic impact of horse racing.”
