Charles Town, Horsemen Strike Three-Year Deal

Blood-Horse

After multiple extensions of their old contract, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and the Charles Town Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association have struck a new contract for a minimum of three years.

The announcement was made June 24. The previous contract between the West Virginia track and horsemen’s group was entered into in 2009 and expired at the end of 2014.

The Charles Town HBPA said the agreement was signed June 19. After the initial three years, the contract will automatically renew for up to two, one-year extensions unless either party wants to terminate it.

“While it was a lengthy process, I’m happy to say that both sides worked amicably and collaboratively towards a completed agreement,” Charles Town general manager Al Britton said in a release. “There was plenty of give and take, but both sides understood how important it was to agree on a contract that would bring some certainty to both the track and the horsemen. We’re happy to have gotten it done.”

“We’re pleased that after many months of comprehensive negotiations conducted with integrity by both sides, the HBPA and (Charles Town) have agreed upon a multi-year contract,” Charles Town HBPA president Randy Funkhouser said. “With the signing of this contract the HBPA and (Charles Town) reaffirm their shared interest in the promotion and long-term stability of year round, live Thoroughbred horse racing, which is so vital to Jefferson County families, businesses, and farms.”

A summary released by the horsemen’s group outlines parameters of the deal, including a provision that track owner Penn National Gaming Inc. won’t seek a statutory reduction in the number of live racing days or live races per day. During the negotiations the track and horsemen’s group have been able to agree on reductions in racing dates in order to maintain purses at a certain level.

“It is the parties’ intention to maintain the stability of purses and to avoid rapid fluctuations in daily total purses,” the summary states.

Under the contract Charles Town can use 8% of the purse account for unrestricted stakes based on total purses paid the previous year. The document also states that Charles Town will maintain the current 1,148 free stalls and “has agreed to make the stall application process transparent to the horsemen. This will be done by allowing an HBPA representative to observe the process and by establishing criteria for stall applications.”

In addition, trainers now have the right to examine the main racing surface and three-furlong training track to determine their safety.