
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 23, 1995                   TAG: 9507180129
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: CHARLES TOWN, W. VA.                                 LENGTH: Short

CHARLES TOWN DISPUTE TIES UP PURSE MONEY

A dispute between two horse owners and trainers' groups at Charles Town Races has tied up thousands of dollars in purse money, officials said.

``We've had horsemen who want to know when the money will be freed up,'' said Robert Rawlings, vice president of the Charles Town Horsemen's Association. ``An awful lot of horsemen know there's no point in applying for it because it's not available anyway.''

Rawlings' group, formed during the winter, and the long-established Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have been at odds over who represents the owners and trainers.

A hearing date has yet to be scheduled for a lawsuit filed by the track in Jefferson County Circuit Court that could determine which group has more members and should represent owners and trainers.

While the suit is pending, 2 percent of the purse money from each day that previously went to the older group is being placed in an escrow account, said track spokesman Paul Espinosa.

Horsemen have not seen any of that share since live racing resumed in March after a three-month hiatus. Espinosa would not say how much is in the account, but Benevolent Association President Randy Funkhouser said there may be as much as $30,000.

Keywords:
HORSE RACING

by CNB