A step in the right direction

If there's one thing the sport of horse racing desperately needs, it's positive publicity.  Yet Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pa. has probably generated more negative press than any other track within the last year, at a time when business and the racing product is on the upswing at the Grantville oval.

Things have dramatically improved at Penn National in the last three seasons.  Purses have gone from about $65,000 per night to over $170,000 thanks to slots revenue, field sizes are among the highest in the country (averaging about 9.15 horses per race, according to the track), and the quality of horses competing in those races is also markedly better.

But Penn National has been caught in a firestorm of bad press due to a hot-button issue in the sport right now - the health and welfare of horses.

Because of the proximity of the New Holland livestock auction, located only 40 miles away, Penn National horsemen (and horsemen from other nearby tracks, Philadelphia Park included) often sent horses there that could no longer compete or were too slow.   Most of the time, these horses were acquired by "kill buyers," who then shipped them to slaughter.  There has been a sustained and vigorous effort, however, by several rescue groups in Pennsylvania and the surrounding region to prevent these horses from meeting such a horrendous fate, though many still do find themselves there.  Last year, for instance, the horse Hagyard Branch (previously trained by Penn National-based Brandon Jenkins) and three horses formerly owned by Michael Gill and having last raced at Penn National - Sentimental Lisa, Flying Fortress, and Spiritual Call -were rescued.

Gill, as most of the country is now aware, was barred from racing at Penn National in early February, a controversy sparked by jockeys refusing to ride his horses due to safety concerns and questions about the ethical treatment of his animals.  Press coverage was mind-boggling: At one point, doing a Google search for "Michael Gill" brought up nearly 1,000 articles that ran nationwide.

While other racetracks, including Philadelphia Park, adopted strict "no slaughter" policies and instituted their own rescue/retirement programs, Penn National did not have such measures in place ... until now.  On March 29, Penn National Gaming, Inc. announced its own "no slaughter" policy, and intends to revoke the stalls of any horsemen who "knowingly, or without conducting proper due diligence, sells a horse for slaughter, directly or indirectly."  This policy is now in effect for all of PNG properties - Zia Park, Charles Town, Bangor Raceway, Penn National and Toledo Raceway.

In the announcement, PNG vice president of racing Chris McErlean said that "We plan to assist our respective horsemen’s organizations in promoting and advertising available options.”

Given the success of Philadelphia Park's retirement program, Turning For Home, which recently placed its 350th horse, we asked Todd Mostoller, the executive director of the Pennsylvania HBPA, which represents Penn National horsemen, whether any plans were in the works for a similar program at the Grantville oval.

"We are looking at a number of possibilities regarding retirement programs," said Mostoller. "We will be visiting a number of programs in the next few months to see what will be the best fit for Penn National. These visits include Turning for Home, New Vocations, and the Finger Lakes program."

When it finally comes to fruition, such a retirement program will be a most welcome addition at Penn National, giving its owners and trainers a safe and humane outlet for horses who can no longer race.  But just as importantly, it will generate some positive publicity for the track, and in the long run for the sport of horse racing itself.