Pennsylvania: Continued Casino Closures Would Make Racing Dependent On Break-Even Handle

Penn National's current purse account will allow the Grantville, Penn. track to race through the end of January whether or not Hollywood Casino remains closed, according to a Tuesday memo from the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association executive director Todd Mostoller.

Should Gov. Tom Wolf extend the casino closure past the current Jan. 4 expiration date, however, racing at Penn National will become contingent on track handle.

“Penn National has agreed to continue live racing through [January], provided the handle generates a break-even scenario for the company,” Mostoller wrote. “This is estimated to be a handle of roughly $1.4 million per night.”

Mostoller's memo indicated that both the track and the Pennsylvania HBPA are confident that level of handle is achievable, but added that if it is not, Penn National management will “likely wish to temporarily shut down racing.”

The memo concluded with an encouragement to bet the races through HollywoodRaces.com: “A bet placed on Penn National races through this ADW is treated the same as a wager placed on track, resulting in considerably higher revenue for both horsemen and the track.”

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If Casino Stays Closed, Penn Racing to Hinge on Break-Even Handle

The Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (PHBPA) met with the management of Penn National Dec. 28 to come up with a contingency plan to keep racing going through January using purse money already “on deposit” in the event that Governor Tom Wolf’s COVID-19-related closure of Penn’s Hollywood Casino extends past the currently mandated Jan. 4. date.

“Penn National has agreed to continue live racing through [January], provided the handle generates a break-even scenario for the company,” Todd Mostoller, the PHBPA’s executive director, wrote in a one-page memo to members issued Tuesday afternoon. “This is estimated to be a handle of roughly $1.4 million per night.”

Mostoller wrote that the PHBPA and Penn “are confident that we can achieve that handle level. Should we be unable to do so, however, Penn National management will likely wish to temporarily shut down racing.”

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Presque Isle Downs Announces 20 Percent Purse Increase Across The Board

Presque Isle Downs, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, is pleased to announce a 20 percent across the board increase for all purses. This is effective with the races to be run Monday, Sept. 28 – for which entries will be taken today.

“This has been a challenging meet, to say the least,” said Todd Mostoller, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania HBPA. “But, the cooperation from every segment of the Presque Isle community, from the Churchill Downs management team, particularly Matt Ennis, the Director of Racing, to the owners and trainers, to the incredibly-devoted backstretch workers who care for these horses, has been nothing short of remarkable.

“The pandemic has forced everyone in racing to be creative, and to be resourceful,” Mostoller added. “There's no better example of that than what continues to take place every day at Presque Isle Downs. This purse increase is a great way to say thanks to our great horsemen who stepped up big-time to support this meet.”

Racing at Presque Isle Downs will continue, Mondays through Thursdays, through Oct. 22, with a 4:45 pm first post.

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