Racing panel puts decisions in writing

BANGOR – The Maine Harness Racing Commission on Wednesday signed off on a written order restating the decisions the panel made during its last meeting.

After reviewing and adopting the order, which outlines several decisions made Feb. 17, the commission members met in executive session with their legal counsel, attorney Bernard Kubetz of Bangor.

The purpose of the session was to review legal issues surrounding appeals of the commission’s Feb. 17 decision to grant a conditional harness racing license to Bangor Historic Track Inc. A privately held company, Bangor Historic Track operates Bangor Raceway, owned by the city of Bangor.

Penn National Gaming Inc. purchased the company earlier this year from entrepreneur Shawn Scott and Scott’s company, Capital Seven LLC. The deal was announced in early January, while licensing suitability hearings were still under way.

Obtaining a racing license is a critical step in Penn National’s plan to develop a racino, or racetrack casino, at the racetrack located in Bass Park.

The facility would combine harness racing with year-round entertainment, namely slot machines.

Before that happens, however, the Legislature must develop and adopt regulations for slots, an exercise expected to take several months.

According to the commission order completed Wednesday, Penn National must undergo a state-mandated background check before the commission grants it a regular license. The applicant is responsible for costs associated with the probe.

In addition, commissioners ruled that the grandstand at Bangor Raceway, which recently underwent major renovations, be returned to a condition conducive to harness racing and pari-mutuel wagering by no later than April 15.

Ann Jordan, a Portland attorney named to the racing commission by Gov. John Baldacci, participated in her first meeting as a member Wednesday and, as such, abstained from the vote.

Also during last month’s meeting, commissioners denied requests for intervenor status from CasinosNo! and the Christian Civic League of Maine, both of which oppose gambling, and the Penobscot Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe, which want to operate the Bangor racino.

The denials are the subject of an appeal filed by CasinosNo! and the two tribes which will be heard by Penobscot County Superior Court Justice Andrew Mead at the end of this month.