Lawmakers told purse fund changes are ‘devastating’ racing industry

Representatives of the horse and dog racing industries in West Virginia told state lawmakers Wednesday the uncertainty in the industry is growing.

The purse funds for horse and dog races at the four casinos have been reduced in recent years to help other areas of the state budget. The purse funds get their revenue from lottery profits. Earlier this year state lawmakers agreed to cut the purse fund by 10 percent to plug holes in the new state budget. The horse and dog owners also learned lawmakers planned not to return money going to pay down a debt in workers’ compensation during the last several years.

Jefferson County horse owner Joe Funkhouser told lawmakers it’s currently a troubling time in the industry.

“I’ve heard some owners and trainers and they’re a little uncertain. They are thinking about looking at Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio and I want to keep them here in West Virginia,” he said.

Purse fund reductions impacting Mountaineer Racetrack in Chester will likely reduce the number of live racing days before the end of the year.

Racing industry lobbyist Troy Hendricks asked lawmakers Wednesday to do something to keep the industry stable.

“Or we’re going to lose a lot of jobs and the things we have,” Hendricks said. “You can’t devastate an industry and that’s what this is doing.”