Harrisburg, PA — Hollywood Casino at The Meadows has secured the necessary permits for some capital improvements that will begin during a 10-day break in the racing schedule for its customary spring track maintenance project, a track official told the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission at its March 26 meeting.
There will be no live racing from March 30 to April 9. Beginning April 10, The Meadows will race four days a week (Wednesday through Saturday) after three months of racing three days a week.
Scott Lishia, director of racing at The Meadows, said the capital improvements include a new infield video board and upgrades to the sound system. The total cost, he said, is about $380,000.
As for the racing surface, it will be reconditioned and scarified as in previous years. There will also be cleanup work done in the barn area.
Beginning in late May and running through the end of August, The Meadows will offer a 5:10 p.m. first post time on 15 Fridays and one Saturday.
In other PHRC business, Thoroughbred bureau director Tom Chuckas said the commission continues discussions with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority on HISA assessments and the amount the PHRC would receive in financial credits for using its own staff and the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory in West Chester. HISA regulations are in place only for Thoroughbred racing in the state.
A 2024 schedule of estimated HISA credits for Pennsylvania shows $1.55 million for race-day sample collection, $348,000 for sample collection on non-racing days, and about $3 million for drug testing and related research. The estimated total is just shy of $5 million in credits.
The three Thoroughbred tracks in the state were assessed a total of $7 million.
Original Source Credited to ustrottingnews.com
