HBPA Aims for Tentative July 6 Racing at Presque Isle

Following a Thursday meeting with the governor's office and the state department of health, the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (PHBPA) has notified members that a tentative date for live racing at Presque Isle Downs is now July 6. The Presque Isle stable area would tentatively open June 15, according to a one-page memo signed by Todd Mostoller, the PHBPA's executive director. No resumption date was listed for Penn National, where the PHBPA also represents horsemen. Penn National currently has horses stabled on the grounds after stopping racing back in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The PHBPA received affirmation that [Wednesday's] statement from Governor [Tom] Wolf allowing professional sports to resume in green and yellow counties includes horse racing,” Mostoller wrote.
Mostoller wrote that the next step involves the state racing commission submitting a set of pandemic protocols to the state health agency no later than June 1. The resumption of racing hinges of approval of those protocols.
Presque Isle was to have raced May 11 through Oct. 22 prior to the coronavirus outbreak.