Penn National to ban sellers for slaughter

Penn National Gaming Inc., North America’s largest pari-mutuel operator, Monday announced a company-wide policy addressing individuals competing at its pari-mutuel facilities who sell their horses to brokers for resale and slaughter.

 

The Company’s policy states “Any horsemen stabled at a Penn National Gaming Inc. owned or operated horse racing facility who knowingly, or without conducting proper due diligence, sells a horse for slaughter, directly or indirectly, will have his or her stalls revoked and may, in addition, be barred from all of our racing properties. Penn National Gaming Inc. requires that horsemen participating at the Company’s racetracks conduct proper due diligence on those buying horses and encourages horsemen participating at Penn National facilities and industry-wide to support rescue and adoption efforts and to seek humane means of dealing with horses unable to continue racing.”

 

“Penn National Gaming has a long-term commitment to the humane treatment of animals and is opposed to the slaughter of racehorses,” said Chris McErlean, vice president of racing for Penn National Gaming Inc. “We need horsemen to become educated and use best efforts and practices in how they manage their equine charges and to act in a responsible way when those athletes no longer are able to race. We plan to assist our respective horsemen’s organizations in promoting and advertising available options.”

 

The policy will take immediate effect at Penn National Gaming’s five wholly owned and operated horse racing facilities--Black Gold Casino at Zia Park (Hobbs, N.M.), Charles Town Races and Slots (Charles Town, W.V.), Hollywood Casino, Hotel and Raceway (Bangor, Maine), Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (Grantville, Pa.) and Raceway Park (Toledo, Ohio)  Penn National Gaming also owns Sanford Orlando Kennel Club in Longwood, Fla. and recently announced plans to acquire Beulah Park in Grove City, Ohio.