Wagering terminal in paddock stirs debate

AUGUSTA – Integrity and image was the message the Maine State Harness Racing Promotion Board heard from a cross section of Maine’s racing public at a harness racing conference at the Augusta Civic Center Thursday.

During the daylong session, more than 50 participants tackled areas of concern to the Standardbred industry: racing image; race facilities; development of new audience; and wagering.

In the final analysis, the discussion groups developed common threads and related themes in many areas. The image of Maine racing is not a good one, it needs public education and promotion. One area of concern expressed at the seminar is the paddock. The public perceives the paddock area as shrouded in mystery, clothed in secrecy and open to only a few.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” said David Dunn, director of racing at Farmington Fair. “Nobody from the wagering public knows what goes on in the paddock area, but they suspect the worst,” Dunn said. “What we ought to do is educate them. We should take people on tours in the paddock so they can see that it’s just the place where horses are lined up for their respective races and not a place of mystery.”

By Maine State Harness Racing rules, the paddock area is closed to the general public one hour before post time. Horse owners, officials, drivers or anyone paddocking a horse for any race are allowed into the secured area with the proper identification.

“This is just one of the things that confuse the public,” Dunn said.

One of the items raised during the brainstorming session that polarized opinions was an idea of having a wagering terminal in the paddock area as a source of additional revenues. MSHRA rules state that any owner may bet on his own horse only.

Wagering terminals have been instituted into paddock areas at out-of-state racetracks quite successfully, Gary Mosher, one of Maine’s top drivers, said. Last year, he said, Yonkers Raceway installed a wagering terminal in its paddock.

“They calculated that to break even, they needed to handle $8,000 per race night to cover the cost of the electronic gear and the security person,” Mosher said. “They are now handling more than $40,000 each night in the paddock and have added another security person.”

The live race handle on the main line, however, did suffer somewhat.

Does Mosher think we need a wagering terminal in the paddock?

“I don’t want to see it in Maine,” he said. “We have enough problems to straighten out. This industry now seems to be headed in the right direction. Let’s get it on a solid footing again.”

Opinions were plentiful at the seminar. On the positive side, an owner said he can’t always make it to the betting area, particularly if he does the paddocking. He believed it would be a convenience for him plus a good source of revenue for the track.

On the negative side, one heavy hitter (more than a $2 bettor) asked where the integrity was in letting the participants have an edge over the wagering public that the commission is sworn to protect? He said he wouldn’t say it would be taken advantage of, but rather than worry about it, he would not support any racetrack.

It is one of those ideas that will generate a lot of conversation, along with the bills that have been submitted to the Legislature for video lottery games at racetracks. You can make a case for it either way.