As of January 11, 2012 there have been 78 horses from Penn National adopted from the New Vocations PA Adoption Program.

January 2012 Update

For information on those horses that are currently available for adoption please visit New Vocations website.

New Vocations

As of December 12, 2011 there have been 71 horses from Penn National adopted from the New Vocations PA Adoption Program.

December Update

For information on those horses that are currently available for adoption please visit New Vocations website.

New Vocations

As of October 26, 2011 there have been 79 horses from Penn National placed into the New Vocations PA Adoption Program. Of those 79, 54 have been adopted.

October Update

For information on those horses that are currently available for adoption please visit New Vocations website.

New Vocations

The PA HBPA will be holding a general membership meeting for its members on Monday, November 7 at 7:00. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn in Grantville.

The tentative scheduled of topics are the 2012 Racing Calendar, Live Racing Agreement and Medical Benefits Eligibility.

Attention Horsemen:

Training at Penn National will be cancelled on Sunday, August 7, 2011.

Normal training hours will resume on Monday.

Effective June 27, 2011 All commercial and private horse vans entering the stable area must be signed in at the time of entry by a Pennsylvania Horse Racing licensed individual who accepts responsibility for the safe delivery and stabling of the horses on the van...

For the full notice please click on the link below.

In and Out Shippers Policy

The link below for enrollment and beneficiary designation form for those eligible participants in the PA HBPA Pension Plan

Pension Plan

Starting March 1, purses will be available within 24 hours with the signed, notarized agreement. All partnerships must designate an authorized agent for signature.

Click on the link below for the agreement.

24 Hour Purse Release Agreement

As most of you know, in the last six months we have seen an abnormal number of positives called, many for therapeutic substances which have long been used by horsemen. This situation has not been unique to Penn National; a similar wave of positives has been reported at Philadelphia Park and Presque Isle...

To continue reading this letter drafted by the PA HBPA Board of Directors please click the link below

Medication Letter

At the October meeting of the full Board, the PA HBPA Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution approving the implementation of the partnership with New Vocations for a horse adoption program and the dues assessment charge of $10 for each race starter to fund the program. The dues assessment charge will begin December 1, 2010.

Below are links for the Application & Terms as well as the Guidelines for the program.

Application & Terms

Guidelines

The new guidelines reflect a change in the shipping fee from $75 to $100 due to the increase in fuel costs. Also please keep the horse at Penn National 48 to 72 hours after being accepted into the program to allow for the Veterinarian to evaluate the horse.

Attention Horsemen:

Firocoxib, a NSAID is being detected by PETRL in race samples. This medication, brand name Equioxx, should not be found in a racing sample. Beginning race day February 14, 2011 any sample found to contain Firocoxib will be deemed a positive test. In the interim trainers who are identified as having a sample containing Firocoxib will be given a warning and any future finding of this medication may result in a positive test.

As of January 1, 2011 there have been 12 horses placed from Penn National into the New Vocations PA Adoption Program. Two of those horses were adopted within 51 days of placement.

The link below is a PDF file of all those horses with updates that were submitted to the program. Updates will continue on a monthly basis.

2011 New Vocations PA Jan Update

Trace Levels of Capsaicin will now be called a positive.

The positive will be considered a Class 2 violation.

Additional research will be done, but until then please discontinue the use of products containing Capsaicin. These products include, but are not limited to, Equi-Block, Rap Last, Bloc-It, and Red Pepper.

The 2011 Penn National Race Calendar has been approved.

Racing will be conducted on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday with a total of 202 race days. During the last two weeks of November and all of December racing will also be conducted on Wednesday.

Please click on the link below for the calendar in PDF form with post times. Special post times will be in effect for Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup days as well as Governor's Cup day.

2011 HCPN Race Calendar

For the next month Dr. Jess Kocher will be available for the Penn National horses for any after race emergency or care.

Dr. Kocher will be available in the receiving barn on Friday and Saturday race nights.

Dr. Kocher can be contacted at 484-707-9898

The first issue of the new PA HBPA Newsletter is currently being printed and will soon be mailed out. To view the Newsletter first online just click on the link below.

August Newsletter

Administrative Policy Notice SHRC-No. 2010-01.
Subject: Policy on Alkalinizing Substances.
Effective Date: July 15, 2010.

Whereas, in accordance with §§201 (a) and 202 (a) of the Race Horse Industry Reform Act (4 P.S. §§325.201 (a) and 325.202(a)), the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission (“Commission”) has general jurisdiction and authority over all thoroughbred horse racing activities in the Commonwealth; and

Whereas, consistent with its statutory authority and in accordance with 58 Pa. Code §163.302 (a), the Commission is charged with protecting the integrity of horse racing, guarding the health and safety of the horse and safeguarding the interest of the general public and racing participants through the prohibition or control of drugs, medications or substances foreign to the natural horse; and

Whereas, in accordance the authority and powers of the State Board of Stewards set forth in 58 Pa. Code §163.340(i) and §163.452(e) of the Commission’s regulations, the Stewards authorize the State Veterinarians to take samples of saliva, urine or blood from horses as designated by the Stewards or the Commission and make the examinations and tests that may be required by the Stewards and the Commission; and

Whereas, on May 13, 2010, at its monthly meeting, the Commission unanimously established and adopted the proposed Policy on Alkalinizing Substances; and

Now Therefore: The use of agents or substances that elevate the horse’s TCO2 level above those exiting naturally in the untreated horse at normal physiological concentrations is strictly prohibited.

Testing for Metabolic Alkalosis

Selection:

Horses to be tested may be selected at random, with probably cause, or as determined by the Stewards and/or the Commission. Selected horses with caretaker will report to a pre-determined site 2 hours prior to their scheduled race in order to have samples collected in accordance with § 163.452 (duties of track veterinarians). The Stewards and/or Commission may order that selected horses may have samples collected at the horses’ stall or the Test Barn prior to their scheduled race. Samples may also be collected post race. The same chain of custody will be applied as is to post race samples.

The owner or trainer of a horse selected for testing may request that a duplicate sample be taken and sent to a commission approved laboratory for analysis. Such request shall be made prior to the collection of the official sample. The costs related to obtaining, handling, shipping and analyzing the duplicate sample shall be the responsibility of the owner or trainer who requested such sample. The chain of custody of the sample will be maintained by the Commission.

If the Commission, in its discretion, determines the duplicate sample cannot be analyzed within five days after the sample is collected, the findings of the official sample shall be final.

A horse that fails to be present for testing shall be made ineligible to race by the Stewards.

A “no exercise” policy prior to testing will be enforced.

Horses reporting to the pre-determined site and showing evidence of having exercised will be examined by the Commission Veterinarian. If in the opinion of the Commission Veterinarian the horse has been exercising, the horse will be tested last or at a time designated by the attending Veterinarian.

Levels:

Samples will be tested post race and be deemed “positive” when a high metabolic alkalosis is determined above the following levels:

(1) The regulatory threshold for TCO2 is 37.0 millimoles per liter of plasma/serum, and;

(2) The decision level to be used for the regulation of TCO2 is 37.0 millimoles per liter of plasma/serum plus the measurement uncertainty of the laboratory analyzing the sample.

(3) Upon a sample being called positive, the Commission shall be responsible in any manner in determining the source or physical condition of the horse that may have caused a high alkalosis level. It will be incumbent upon the trainer or owner to provide any mitigating evidence at the Stewards hearing as to a high alkalosis reading.

Penalty:

The recommended penalty for a first offense of a high alkalosis reading is a fine of $1500 (fifteen hundred dollars), a suspension of 30 (thirty) to 60 (days) and loss of purse.

/S/ Daniel Tufano
Director
PA State Horse Racing Commission

Below is a copy of the letter from Penn National Gaming, Inc. regarding their new anti-slaughter policy.

March 30, 2010

Board of Directors
PA HBPA
PO Box 88
Grantville, PA 17028

Re: Penn National Gaming Anti-Slaughter Policy

Board Members of the HBPA:

As you know, the horse racing industry continues to be plagued by the existence of horsemen who sell their horses to brokers for resale and slaughter. Penn National Gaming is opposed to this practice and the inhumane treatment of the animals by those engaged in it. To clarify our position, we are issuing the following policy statement, to be effective immediately:

“Any horsemen stabled at a Penn National Gaming, Inc. owned or operated horse racing facility who knowingly, or without conducting proper due diligence, sells a horse for slaughter, directly or indirectly, will have his or her stalls revoked and may, in addition, be barred from all of our racing properties. Penn National Gaming, Inc. requires that horsemen participating at the Company’s racetracks conduct proper due diligence on those buying horses and encourages horsemen participating at Penn National facilities and industry-wide to support rescue and adoption efforts and to seek humane means of dealing with horses unable to continue racing.”

You will note the requirement for “due diligence” on the part of horsemen. Turning a blind eye is not acceptable.

HCPNRC requests that the PA HBPA and its members stand in opposition to inhumane treatment and slaughter of horses. We ask that you take an active role in ensuring this practice does not happen here. Should any horsemen become aware of any such activity, please notify HCPNRC Security immediately, so that appropriate action can be taken.

We look forward to your commitment in working to prevent any mistreatment of these equine athletes.

Yours truly,

Frank Quigley
Vice President & General Manager

Your HBPA is committed to the protection, promotion, and improvement of live thoroughbred horse racing in Pennsylvania. Additionally, the HBPA is charged with the responsibility of fostering a closer, and more understanding, relationship with all levels of the racing industry, including our elected officials.

To that extent the HBPA has maintained a PAC (Political Action Committee) that allows the HBPA to participate in political campaigns to increase the awareness of our elected officials to the needs of live thoroughbred horse racing in Pennsylvania.

Enabled by your PAC contributions, we were extremely successful influencing the provisions in the Slot Legislation – ACT 71. The accomplishments included 18% to Horsemen, protection of Live Racing, funding of a Health & Pension Plan, mandatory expenditure of $10 million on backside improvements and Horsemen’s control of allocated dollars.

Unfortunately, the state budget deficit of 2009 motivated the Legislature to remove $50 million from the Race Horse Development Fund and deposit those dollars into the state’s general fund for the next three years. This action is a strong indicator that the dollars allocated to racing through Act 71 are on the radar screen of the legislature and we must be politically active to protect against further reductions.

Please use the attached form if you are interested in making a contribution to the PA HBPA PAC. While we are requesting a level of giving of $100 per person, if you choose to participate, please contribute whatever amount you feel is appropriate.

PA HBPA PAC
P.O. Box 88
Grantville, PA 17028

Phone: 1-717-469-2970
FAX: 1-717-469-7714

Note: Please make checks payable to “PA HBPA PAC”
(Corporate checks cannot be accepted)

Name: _______________________________________

Home Address: _______________________________________

City/State/Zip: _______________________________________

Home Phone: _______________________________________

Amount enclosed $______________

The PA HBPA PAC thanks you for your contribution

Under the stewardship and guidance of the PA HBPA President, Stephanie Beattie, and the PA HBPA Board of Directors, the PA Bred program for Penn National will have a number of substantial positive changes in 2010.

Effective February 3, 2010, the PA Bred preference will be reinstated for all horses competing at Penn National Race Course. This action will also reinstate the owner bonus of 20% for all PA Bred horses finishing in the top three of a race. Previously, those PA Bred horses below the $7,500 claiming level did not enjoy preference in races and therefore did not participate in the owner bonus program.

There will be an expanded PA Bred restricted race program. Beginning with the February condition book, Maiden Special Weights, Maiden claiming $25,000 and $10,000 will be written every twenty one days. These races will carry the same purse as the open overnight races. However, no owner bonus will be paid on restricted races. In addition, an allowance 1X/2L carrying a $36,000 purse will be written on a 21 day cycle.

Effective February 3, 2010, the eligibility for racing at Penn National Race Course will change and the following horses will not be eligible to race at Penn National:

1. Horses which have not finished 1st,2nd, or 3rd for $4,000 or more since starting for $4,000

2. Horses which have not finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th in their last 5 starts since starting for $5,000 or less and not finishing 1st,2nd or 3rd.

3. Maidens which have not finished 2nd, 3rd, or 4th for $5,000 or more in their last 5 starts since starting for $5,000 or less.

4. Maidens older than six(6) years old.

While this change takes effect on February 3rd it is retroactive regarding the placing of horses.

The annual limits for medical benefits paid from the Benefit Trust have been raised to the following:

Medical Benefits - $10,000

Dental - $1,000

Vision - $500