In the very near future, we will introduce legislation that will amend the Fiscal Code to continue for three more years the status quo for how the costs of race horse medication testing are paid. Medication testing is a necessary aspect of enforcing the integrity of horse racing. Without it, horse racing cannot occur.

When the entire horse racing law was amended and added to the Agriculture Code in 2016, it included a four-year provision that the expenses associated with the collection and research of testing racehorses for medication would be funded from a transfer from the Race Horse Development Trust Fund (RHDTF). The RHDTF is funded from a tax on slot machine play at our casinos. This funding provision was extended for two years in 2020 via language in the Fiscal Code and extended again in the 2022 Fiscal Code.
 
After June 30, 2025, the funding for medication testing will revert to the State Racing Fund (SRF), which is funded by horse racing-related license fees and a tax on pari-mutuel handle (betting activity). The SRF is not solvent enough to support the amount necessary to cover the annual costs of medication testing (approximately $14 million). Our proposal will extend for three more years the sunset date, and the source of funding to pay for medication testing will continue to be the RHDTF until June 30, 2028.

Please consider cosponsoring this legislation.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0889: P.L.343, No.176
Printer's No. 0986: P.L.343, No.176