Legislators rally to save horse racing, OTB sites

AUGUSTA – The possibility of closing Bangor Raceway to accommodate a proposed $30 million civic center has sent shock waves through the harness racing community. On Tuesday, horsemen sought to ease the way for a new facility during a daylong session on gambling and racing bills before the Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee.

Although the new civic center still is on the drawing board, horse racing supporters already are making their plans for replacement, just in case. Bangor Raceway and Scarborough Downs are the only commercial racetracks in the state.

A new civic center would almost certainly mean the “devastating” end of harness racing in Bangor, according to Rep. Terrence P. McKenney, R-Cumberland Center. To “alleviate the uncertainty” about a replacement facility, McKenney proposed LD 289 to change the track license from a location to a person or organization, making a new facility easier to develop. LD 1415, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Chizmar, D-Lisbon Falls, also would simplify the development of a new commercial racetrack if an existing track closed.

Bangor Raceway manager Fred Nichols said “we want to stay” at Bass Park and continue racing, but admitted the track has an uncertain future. Under the current license, the operation could not move elsewhere, even if the track closed, he said. The two bills were supported by Henry Jackson of the Maine Harness Commission and Bill Hathaway of the Maine Horsemen’s Association who said the industry was “near starvation” with two tracks.

The committee also heard several bills regarding off-track betting. LD 194, sponsored by Rep. Paul L. Tessier, D-Fairfield, would prohibit racetracks from conducting simulcast wagering if established OTB facilities are within the same “marketing area.” Rep. Stavros Mendros, R-Lewiston, sponsored LD 1447 to remove existing limitations on OTB facilities. The legislation was supported by OTB operators at John Martin’s Manor in Waterville and Miller’s Restaurant in Bangor.

Several industry spokesmen suggested the bills be held over for the next session to give OTB operators and the racing industry a chance to develop mutually satisfactory legislation.

Proposals to legalize Internet and telephone gambling and video gambling machines were back before the Legislature on Monday.

The effort to allow telephone wagering on horse racing was vetoed by Gov. Angus King during the last session and the Legislature failed to override the veto by just a single vote. Tessier sponsored LD 1242 to legalize the activity. It is common knowledge that substantial illegal betting is done over the phone and through satellite dishes, Tessier told the committee. Such gambling harms both racetracks and OTB facilities and is impossible to regulate, Tessier said. Legalizing the process would “level the playing field” for Maine track and OTB operators, he said.

Although more than 60 percent of Mainers voting last November killed a referendum on legalizing video gambling, Rep. John M. Michael, an Auburn independent, wants to try again. Michael told the committee on Tuesday that the illegal video gambling machines are used now across the state. His bill, LD 1715, would bring the machines “from the gray area into the light” and develop revenue by dedicating 20 percent of proceeds for the racing industry.

LD 255, sponsored by Rep. Richard A. Crabtree, R-Hope, would require the Maine Harness Racing Commission to appoint judges for all licensed race meets, including county fairs. Judges now are employees of the individual tracks, Crabtree said. The change would mean more work and higher salaries for qualified judges.

In another effort to generate money for the racing industry, Sen. Peter Mills, R-Skowhegan, proposed a new lottery game in LD 1544. A percentage of the lottery proceeds would go toward increasing purses at racetracks.

The committee also heard testimony on LD 108, sponsored by Penobscot Nation Rep. Donna Loring to expand high-stakes bingo dates to include both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The committee is expected to take action on the bills at a May 1 work session.