Pennsylvania Integrity Hotline to be in Place March 1

A Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission hotline to report "unethical, illegal, or suspicious activity" will be in place starting March 1, director of Thoroughbred Horse Racing Tom Chuckas confirmed during the Feb. 22 commission meeting.

"We'll request a detailed message. All calls shall remain anonymous," Chuckas said. "This will be not manned; it will be call in, you leave a message. In my conversations with the horsemen some people would like to comment on certain things. This will be their opportunity."

The integrity hotline will be available for both Thoroughbred and Standardbred reports.

"Between the bureau directors and the director of enforcement, we'll take the calls, we'll go through them, we'll determine what action is needed," Chuckas said.

The number for the hotline will be posted on the commission's website, in the race offices at the state's racetracks, stable gates, and barn areas. Chuckas also hopes to see the number printed in the race programs and on the tracks' websites.

The commission first announced it planned to implement a hotline at its January meeting, along with a 10-step Equine Safety and Welfare Action Plan for the state's racetracks. Chuckas said most of the steps will either be implemented or in process come March 1. Step 7 requires regulation to modify, and steps 9-10 will require additional conversation or time to set up.