Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Rosecroft Suspends Live Racing

July 19, 2008

More than 1,000 horsemen and other employees will be affected as Rosecroft Raceway suspends its live harness racing until 2010.

Officials with the Fort Washington racetrack announced the decision at this week’s monthly meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission, saying tracks in West Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania with slot machines are taking money from Rosecroft’s pari-mutuel wagering. With the $5.9 million Rosecroft pays annually to host simulcast thoroughbred and harness wagering, it can no longer afford to present live racing for the next two years, track officials say.

The commission approved the request of track owner Cloverleaf Enterprises to still offer the simulcasts and temporarily discontinue the live racing. Rosecroft’s business plan says the company intends to provide live racing again in the fall of 2010, said Michael Hopkins, executive director of the Maryland Racing Commission.

The suspension of live racing ‘‘affects every aspect of the track,” said Kelley Rogers, Cloverleaf president.

The loss of live racing hits everyone from the workers selling programs to the paddock maintainers, trainers and drivers.

Rogers said about 20 of the track’s 125 full-time employees are involved in live racing and face losing their jobs, but more than 800 horsemen and 400 associated employees will still be affected by the decision. Most of the track’s full-time employees work as tellers for the simulcast races.

Rosecroft, which opened 65 years ago, has suffered since slots appeared in neighboring states. Revenues fell from $97 million last year to an estimated $80 million this year, Rogers said. While the track used to see as many as 800 horses a year, it now draws about 400, as Maryland purses cannot compete with those in with other states.

‘‘We can’t attract people back. ... This is affecting real people,” he said. ‘‘If slots don’t pass, Rosecroft is done. No ifs, ands or buts about it.”

Maryland voters will consider a referendum on slots in November; however, the proposal does not include a location in Prince George’s County. Rogers said Rosecroft will continue to maintain its track as a training center in the meanwhile, and will host sire and bred fund races in November and December, which have already been prepaid.

James A. Dula, CEO and president of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce, said Rosecroft should explore new revenue sources. The overall impact the loss of live racing has on the county depends on Rosecroft’s next marketing strategy, he said.

Rosecroft recently lost a potential buyer, Penn National Gaming, after Prince George’s was not included among potential slot machine sites in the referendum. Earlier, Penn National and other prospective buyers had said, before backing out, that their decision to buy the track was not contingent on slots coming there.