Scarborough Downs retains Ricci ideals

Except for a couple of new faces added to Scarborough Downs’ management team, everything else seems pretty much the same, including the philosophy of its owner, the late Joseph Ricci.

Ricci, the flamboyant and controversial owner of Scarborough Downs for more than 25 years, died Jan. 29 after a long struggle with lung cancer. Ricci’s death, at 54, created a whole bunch of questions for horsemen, who are not only concerned about the future of the Maine’s largest harness racing facility, but about their own livelihood as well.

Since Ricci’s death, rumors have circulated throughout the New England horse racing business -that the track would be closed; that it was up for sale, but not as a harness track and that drastic changes would take place at Scarborough Downs.

And the question people were asking was who is at the helm giving orders?

Most of those legitimate concerns were answered Thursday by Sharon (Terry) Ricci, Joe Ricci’s widow. Mrs. Ricci has been an integral part of Golden Ark Enterprises Inc., the parent company of DavRic Corp. which has operated Scarborough Downs for the past 25 years. She has been the administrator of Elan, a special purpose, private school dealing with troubled teen-agers, founded by her husband 1970.

As executrix of Ricci’s will, now in Probate Court, Mrs. Ricci said she wouldn’t discuss specifics about her husband’s will, but said she is the personal representative of DavRic Corp. and Golden Ark.

“I’m the one who’s in the hot seat making all the decisions now,” she said.

Last October at its 2001 date hearings, the Maine Harness Racing Commission, granted 140 racing dates to Scarborough Downs and Mrs. Ricci said Thursday that it was her company’s intention to continue to operate Scarborough Downs as a racetrack.

”Definitely we are going to do our best to keep the place open. That’s what Joe wanted. He was very specific about wanting to keep the industry alive and keeping all those people employed and that’s what we intend to do also,” Mrs. Ricci said.

Mrs. Ricci said she was not contemplating any major changes at Scarborough Downs this year.

“I know the rumor mill says a lot of things, but we are going to try to race the same kind of schedule and maintain the same purse structure. We probably will be doing some renovations at the track like we do every year, but as far as major changes, there will not be any,” according to Mrs. Ricci.

Asked if the racetrack was for sale, Mrs. Ricci answered emphatically, “No, it is not. I have heard that rumor also and I would like to make it clear that we are not selling the racetrack. We are, however, looking at selling some adjourning property to the track, but the racetrack itself is not for sale. Joe worked for so many years trying to keep the track open, it would be shame to see it not be there.”

And what could the state do to give Maine’s harness racing industry a financial boost?

“Obviously, it would be nice if we could have slot machines or some other revenue enhancers, even telebetting,,” Mrs. Ricci said. “There has to be more revenues coming in, but Governor King has certainly made it obviously clear that he is not going to expand gaming. So I don’t see [VLTs] as something that is going to happen right away. However, it might be something the state may want to take a look at down the road.”

There currently is a bill in the 120th Maine Legislature, L.D. 194 – “An Act to Ensure Stability in Maine’s Harness Racing and Off-track Betting Business – that provides a racetrack may accept wagers on simulcast races only if it has been authorized to and has accepted such wagers in the past or if it is located outside the market areas of existing businesses established to accept such wagers. According to the Legislative Information Office, the bill has not had a public hearing yet, the first step before going to committee for a legislative recommendation.

Kelly (Bunny) Foster continues as the general manager of Scarborough Downs and she is also a vicepresident of DavRic Corp. Mrs. Ricci’s management team has changed slightly this year with the addition of two vice presidents to DavRic, Inc., that are both pretty close to home. Mrs. Ricci’s daughter, Denise Mountain, and Noah Ricci, Joe’s son, are both in management positions at the corporate headquarters in Gray.

Noah Ricci looks exactly like his father with a 30-year step backward. He looks and talks like his father and displays the same mannerisms and personality.

It appears Scarborough Downs is making the transition from life without Joe Ricci. They are moving forward while still maintaining his racetrack philosophy and goals.

Ken Ward’s weekly harness racing column is published each Saturday. He may be reached by e-mail at Hogg@ prexar.com