A lawyer representing Presque Isle Downs informed the State Racing Commission in Pennsylvania May 31 that a five-year live-racing agreement has been reached between the track and the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.
Presque Ise and the PA HBPA dueled in court last year, at odds over revenue sharing of advance deposit wagering dollars, which is laid out in a live-racing agreement. Since early 2019, Presque Isle Downs has been owned by Churchill Downs Inc., which also operates TwinSpires, one of the market-leading ADWs.
Early last month, the commission issued a cease and desist order to Presque Isle, though Presque Isle never suspended operations of TwinSpires, CDI corporate counsel Ozair Shariff conceded Tuesday to commissioners during their monthly meeting. Presque Isle otherwise stopped pari-mutuel wagering for a period of days before it was granted a temporary restraining order, Shariff said.
Also Tuesday, commissioners tabled voting to approve a voluntary agreement with the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority, pending continued discussions between HISA officials and commission staff, and heard a report that the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory received coveted ISO 17025 accreditation.
Later, after HISA approval had been tabled, Todd Mosteller, executive director of the PA HBPA, raised concerns about shoeing rules under HISA regarding the elimination of rear toe grabs in dirt racing, especially on sloppy tracks. He speculated that eliminating toe grabs could increase hind-end injuries.
Source credited to: bloodhorse.com
