The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association and The Meadows Racetrack and Casino are pleased to announce the opening of two new barns on the backstretch of the Southwestern Pennsylvania track
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Each of the two new barns will hold 59 horses, and each has six bath stalls equipped with the latest quick-recovery hot water heaters. There are seven offices in each barn, and feed rooms are located on the ends for maximum fire safety, with fire walls between the rooms and the rest of the barn. Full sprinkler systems have been installed as well.
Penn State University was consulted in regard to the best possible ventilation options, and each barn is equipped with seven roof cupolas with power vents, and an exhaust fan has been installed on each end.
Aisles are cement, and each stall is fully matted. Within the next month, all roads surrounding the barns will be paved with asphalt.
The first horses are expected to move into the new barns later this week.
This is the first phase of The Meadows’ $8.7 million backstretch project. In all, six new barns will be constructed, older barns will have their electrical systems and roofs upgraded, and all roads around the backstretch will be paved. Backstretch improvement funds allocated from slot revenues will be used first, followed by money collected from stall rent, which is currently being held in escrow.
“This is a major improvement project which will benefit many horsemen at The Meadows,” said MSOA President Rich Gillock. “I’m happy that phase one is complete and we are all looking forward to the next step.”