Maryland Million running with backdrop of slots vote
On Saturday, I'll be covering my first Maryland Million Day. For fans who are unfamiliar with the event, it's a card of 12 horse races at Laurel Park (first post, 12:15 p.m.) where the horses are restricted to offspring of Maryland stallions. Many within the horse industry consider it the second-most important day to Preakness Day. And for some Maryland horsemen and horsewomen, it's even more important because they are participants rather than spectators.
There is an interesting twist to this year's Maryland Million because as the day celebrates thoroughbred racing in the state, those within the industry are actually more mindful of an event a month from now when the state's voters cast ballots on slot machine gambling. Without picking sides on the issue, it is absolutely clear that those within the horse racing industry see this as pretty much a life-and-death moment.
It's a complicated issue but for Maryland horse people it boils down to this -- nearby states with slots, such as Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia -- can use those gaming revenues to sweeten the purses for horse racing. And by offering further incentives for horses sired or foaled in those states, those jurisdictions can attract horses to be bred and boarded in those states. As a result, Maryland horse people say, the thoroughbred population is migrating away from Maryland -- the home turf, so to speak, of the sport in the mid-Atlantic -- to those other states.
Horse trainer Tim Keefe is a Maryland horsemen, born and raised in the state. He has three horses running Saturday in the Maryland Million. I asked him yesterday at the post position draw at Laurel whether without slots, he thought there would still be a Maryland Million. Of course, a major player in all this is Magna Entertainment, owner of Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and the Preakness Stakes.
“I would think you’d still have the Maryland Million but you would probably have less racing days, maybe 120 versus 185,” Keefe said. “I still think we would have the big days, if (Magna Entertainment Chairman and CEO Frank) Stronach kept the Preakness in Maryland and he didn’t move it.
“Maryland Million is about breeding in Maryland,” Keefe added, “and with fewer horses being bred here you would have less and less quality.”
Mike Pons is a third-generation horse breeder with a farm in Bel Air and a training facility is Baltimore County. He has a filly, Spectacular Malibu, running in the competitive distaff race on Saturday. Pons' assessment was to the point: "The slots don’t come, it’s going to be a dark picture around here. Magna will be gone and the Preakness may be gone and all of a sudden, what the heck are we fooling with."
Comments
Traveling to Laurel for horse racing. What a letdown after covering events in Vegas. :)
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Capt.,
They each have their charms.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Captain Jack | October 2, 2008 12:39 PM
Let's remember, Maryland racing got into this state through their own bad judgement and lousy management. Handing Magna Entertainment of Canada a billion dollar payday isn't going to change that. They are so far in debt that they had to borrow the $2 million to force feed voters fairy tales about a fake education benefit. Why don't they come right out and tell it like it is: We want Marylanders to hand us $500 million a year to reward our failure. BAILOUT!
Meanwhile, slots don't bring people to watch racing. Go to these other tracks and you will see horses running races with nobody in the stands. And yet "racing is saved." It's crazy. You are saving a product that people don't seem to want to buy.
So when you hear that non-stop litany of TV and radio ads telling you lies about education funding, remember that the predatory gambling industry is spending millions to buy your vote on a sweetheart bailout package that does nothing for Marylanders.
Posted by: Aaron Meisner | October 2, 2008 1:33 PM
I remember the Lottery was supposed to the thing to fix all budget woes in the state. I think we all learned by now what a fairy tale that is. Now they signing the same song with slots. The slots will bring in some money. But, the additional money speant in infratsture with Fire, Police, Public roads. Not to mention crime and other unwanted elements that go along with the slots, it is really worth it??????
Posted by: Captain Jack | October 2, 2008 4:22 PM
Maryland Million Day is one of the great days of the year in Maryland. There will be more than 25,000 people in attendance and a nationwide focus on Maryland. I invite all to come and see and experience our great sport of horse racing. I read Aaron Meisner's comments and find it disappointing that he failed to mention that he is head of Stop Slots Maryland. One of the great things about being an American is that we have open and free elections. Question 2, the Referendum on Slots, will be put forth to the public on Election Day November 4th. Marylanders will get to decide whether or not we should legalize slot machines. Aaron, both you and I, will have to live with the consequences. Mike Pons, Business Manager at Country Life Farm (Harford County) and Merryland Farm (Baltimore County).
Posted by: Mike Pons | October 3, 2008 12:06 PM
As a born and raised here, authentic Laurel resident. I dread million race day. The additional traffic brings 198 to a standstill and you cant move around town. I did not shed a tear last year when it was canceled.
I also am disappointed by the owners of the race track. They expect handout and handout from the state. Who do you think built the new living quarters for the horse workers?
I agree that its great to live in a democratic country where we have free and open elections. But, unfortunately, at times the voters are not educated to the complete picture and only see the 30 second sound bite and what other people them them.
Posted by: Captain Jack | October 3, 2008 2:21 PM
Aaron,
For years now you have been spewing lies and slanted statistics to advance your cause. Now I have had enough. Maryland racing got into this “state” because of the unlevel playing field created when WV and DE legalized racinos. You always mention Magna but you leave out the hundreds of business that will be affected if Maryland racing dies. You say slots will not bring people to watch racing, that maybe true, but that is not the way racing works in the 21st century. Success is determined by simulcast handle. Racetracks are in essence TV studios, and the few people in the crowd are the studio audience. Handle in DE and WV have skyrocked since the advent of slots. What bothers me most about your recent comments is your lack of conscience. You talk of Magna receiving a bailout, yet you work in the financial sector that just received a 700 BIILION Dollar BAILOUT! What is the difference? The money Magna will receive will require a significant investment on their part of which they will get a return from people who will voluntarily play the machines. The taxes that are going to bail out your industry will NOT be voluntary. You refer to the gaming industry as predatory, and yet a large portion of the money made by companies like yours were made on predatory loans. Sir, you are not only a liar you are a hypocritical liar. Ten years ago, you said to someone I know “sell the farm and move“….if you don’t like living next to Pimilico, why don’t you sell your house and move. It was there way before you.
Dan Myer
Delmar
Posted by: Dan Myer | October 3, 2008 8:54 PM
Mr. Ordine, The MD. Million is about racing and the STALLIONS that stand in MD. In your article in the Sun Paper there is not a mention of the Stallions who sired the horses running. The Breeders Cup also lags in this area. It would not hurt someone to mention the Sire and the Dam of the horses running.
Posted by: Michael Fisher | October 6, 2008 12:05 PM