Horse-racing industry wants Corbett plan scratched

Gov. Tom Corbett is defending his proposal to take money out of a fund for Pennsylvania’s horse-racing industry in order to prop up agriculture and other programs.

Corbett’s budget plan would take $72 million out of the Race Horse Development Fund.

“It’s hard times for everybody. We are taking some of the money over to ag[riculture],” he said. “But we’re also going to encourage the fairs, and they’ll be seeing some of that money through the fairs.”

The money would go into Pennsylvania fairs, as well as agricultural research and extension, and veterinary centers at Penn State.

Groups representing the horse-racing industry in Pennsylvania balked at the plan, which they say will discourage further growth in the horse sector and cost jobs.

Some $130 million would be left in the fund.

The funding transfer would require legislative approval.