Insight & Influence: The Podcast

In late 2024, we launched our Insight & Influence e-newsletter to share information and updates on Harrisburg happenings and those with across the state. Now we've moved to the next level with a companion podcast, also called Insight & Influence.

Presented by C & G Strategies, Insight & Influence brings insightful conversations from influential people including government officials, industry leaders, and advocates from across the state.

Episode 12 of 2026 of the C & G Strategies podcast, Insight and Influence, is now available wherever you get your podcasts. In this episode, host Rob Vescio talks with Dawnelle Mock, Executive Director of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA), live from the Meadows racetrack.

For those unfamiliar with horse racing, Mock highlights how the MSOA serves as a 365-day-a-year anchor for Pennsylvania’s harness racing community, housing over 750 horses and supporting hundreds of local trainers, drivers, and grooms. Beyond the excitement of the track, the discussion delves into horse racing’s massive role as an agricultural powerhouse in the Commonwealth, supporting over 23,000 jobs, providing $1.6 billion in economic impact, and preserving thousands of acres of vital open green space through local breeding operations.

The conversation also addresses the modern challenges facing the industry, particularly the shifting landscape of Pennsylvania gaming. Mock explains how the rise of online gaming and skill machines has impacted the Racehorse Development Trust Fund—a casino-funded purse and health benefit system that requires no taxpayer dollars—causing a drop in race days and pushing some horsemen to competing states.

Despite these pressures, the local industry remains resilient and highly competitive, building major excitement for its upcoming crown jewel event: the 60th running of the prestigious Delvin Miller Adios Pace. Scheduled for Saturday, July 25th, this family-friendly event features over $2 million in total purses, free admission, and a lively atmosphere that simply cannot be replicated on a smartphone.