Some comments rub me the wrong way regardless of the fact that they don't target me specifically. Reading about Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf seeking to raid the Horse Racing Development Fund was hardly shocking. The Governor has done it before, and I'm certain if he doesn't succeed in 2021 he'll attempt it again. It was a specific quote from Susan Spicka, the executive director of the Education Voters of Pennsylvania, in this story from Matt Hegarty on DRF.com that rubbed me the wrong way. "The legislature has to make a choice," said Spicka. "They can either fund college students who will become our nurses and teachers or continue to give $200 million to wealthy horse owners, many of whom live out of state." The concept that $200 million is going to "wealthy horse owners" is simply false. Yes, a fair share of that money goes to owners, some who may be well-off, but to say that all owners are wealthy is absurd and uneducated. Some owners came into Standardbred racing wealthy and invest in the sport for profit or the love of the game. A select few built up a strong operation over the years and have become wealthier via the purse structure in the sport. Many owners, certainly outnumbering the rich ones, are involved fractionally or as "mom and pop" operations trying to make an honest living like the rest of the population. From about 1999 to 2012, I was an owner whose horses raced in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Most of the time I owned one horse but occasionally there were two or three. To my recollection, at no time was I rich. If I was, my stable would've been much larger and low-level claimers wouldn't have been my go-to horses. There were times when I worried how much the training bill for the month would be and there are plenty of others who own horses that carry the same financial concerns.  So again, I take umbrage with the wealthy owner comment. The statement above from Spicka also neglects to consider the numerous costs involved with ownership. Owners must pay the trainer and veterinarian. They must shell out more money for stall rent, food, vitamins, medications, and travel. That means the money goes back into the economy, not necessarily all into Pennsylvania, but certainly a portion of it. On February 13 at The Downs at Pocono, despite a series which will typically draw horses from all over the East Coast, a total of 33 horses were owned at least in part by someone with a permanent address in the state. Tony Schadel, who owns 16 head at his Sacramento, Pennsylvania, farm along with his wife/trainer Linda, is one of the owners represented on the program and part of a blue-collar family operation. The 47-year-old has been in the business since he was 15 when he bought a horse for just $800. "We are just trying to get by," said Schadel, who buys his feed locally in Pennsylvania. "A couple of years ago we had a top horse, but the business eats up your profit really quick. I had a $3,000 feed bill last month just for grain. It isn't cheap to be in this business and care for the horses." Even if an owner and trainer are from out-of-state, there is money being spent in Pennsylvania. They might stop for gas, receive services from the local vet, pay a local groom, or eat in a local restaurant. If there is no reason to race in the state, none of that money is spent. Of course, it is not limited to trainers shipping in for one night of racing. Owners, from Pennsylvania and elsewhere, often show up at the track and spend money. Members of the media and fans show up and spend money. Take away the lure of top racing, and that attendance surely evaporates. Schadel freely admitted that if the Governor was ever successful, he may need to look outside the Keystone State. "If purses go down, we are already talking about relocating," said Schadel. "I'm already shipping some horses three hours to New Jersey because the purses are better there right now. If you can compete at the Meadowlands, you have to go where the money is. I'm sure a lot of guys living in western Pennsylvania go to Ohio." None of the above even takes into account the effect on the breeding industry. Consider what happened in New Jersey. Many stallions left the state, and the entire pacing side of the breeding industry basically dissolved, only recently seeing a resurgence with Lazarus, Bettor's Wish, Cattlewash, and others spending at least some time in New Jersey. Imagine a collapse of the Sire Stakes program in Pennsylvania. What toll would that take on Hanover Shoe Farms and others in the state? What reason would there be for Diamond Creek Farm to remain in Pennsylvania? How much money do those farms generate for the Pennsylvania economy? There is also an active fair program in Pennsylvania. The state has 15 fairs, which host up to 20 different meets that truly showcases racing on the grassroots level. Schadel races regularly on the circuit and certainly fears that it would be crippled by purse cuts and potentially a mass exodus of horsemen. I'm far from an expert on Pennsylvania economics. Honestly, I don't know much about it at all. But I know harness racing, and everything above is simple logic. Raiding the Horse Racing Development Fund would cripple the horse racing industry in the state from top to bottom. Since you are reading this newsletter, here's another comparison: If we get more ads, we need more content, which means we need to pay someone to write more stories, which means you get to enjoy more articles. Just like the owners, does DRF make more money? Yes. We also provide more benefit to the readers and keep more people employed. To suggest that the $200 million is sitting in the pocket of wealthy owners is simply not fair and it is not true.