Legislative fix in the works that would salvage Pennsylvania horse farms

Legislation to fix an unintended consequence of a law enacted earlier this year to modernize the horse racing industry that has held up Pennsylvania Breeders Fund payouts to the thoroughbred horse breeders and owners won House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approval. House Bill 2303, sponsored by Rep. Martin Causer, R-McKean County, is expected to be put to a vote by the full House next week.  The fix is needed because the law passed in a rush to prevent the shutdown of horse racing in the state changed the eligibility requirements for payouts from the breeders fund to permit payments to go to horses sired in Pennsylvania but foaled out of state. This drew opposition from the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, which represents the interests of the state's 500 horse breeders. The association claimed the changes that allowed money to flow to out-of-state breeders denigrated the purpose of the breeders program which is to support and incentivized horse breeding in the commonwealth. As a result, payouts from the fund that as of last month totaled $6 million due to breeders and owners have been held up until the wrinkle created by the new law got ironed out.