Racing bows to slots in Pa.

Weekend Thoroughbred fans at Philadelphia Park are going to be shorted races as racing has bowed to casino management in an effort to lessen traffic, with the track dropping two races off its Saturday programs and one on its Sunday cards. Also, it is moving post time back 20 minutes, from 12:25 p.m. to 12:05 p.m. In return, a race will be added on Mondays and Tuesdays.

“We’re doing it to alleviate some of the congestion,” Philadelphia Park director of racing Sal Sinatra was quoted as saying. “We were asked (by casino management) if we could finish the live racing card by 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, because it would help.”

Philadelphia Park opened its slots area the third week of December, with the machines being on the first two floors of the grandstand. That left only a small part of the first and third floors (which reportedly hadn’t been used for years) for horse bettors. A permanent casino is planned for the front parking lot and scheduled to open in 2008.

Sinatra admitted horsemen weren’t appreciative of the changes, but that most have expressed understanding the problems.

“We’ll work with the casino people because we’re cohabitating with them,” he said.

Despite the changes, daily average purses—which just increased to $175,000—could reach $300,000 later this year with the slots revenues.

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