Pa. horse-racing industry hits Corbett budget

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A group representing Pennsylvania horse trainers, owners and breeders is warning that Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget could devastate the state’s horse racing industry.

Pennsylvania Equine Coalition spokesman Pete Peterson said today that Corbett’s plan to transfer $72 million from a state fund set up to bolster the industry with money from casino gambling could undo the progress made so far.

Corbett wants to shift the money into other programs, including agricultural research, the University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary school and agricultural fairs.

The coalition says $47 million a year is already being siphoned from the racing fund under a deal struck during Gov. Ed Rendell’s administration.

It says Corbett’s proposal would result in nearly $120 million being taken out of the roughly $285 million that annually goes into the fund.