The city of Bowie has vowed to fight the Maryland Jockey Club if it follows through on plans to close its horse race training center.
The Jockey Club and its owners plan to shutter the nearly century-old facility as part of a plan to scale back on live racing at its two other Maryland race tracks, Laurel Park and Pimlico after losing a fight for slots in Anne Arundel County.
But legislation passed in 1992 prevents the center from being closed as long as Laurel Park is open and races are held there.
Eric Schippers, a spokesman for Jockey Club co-owner Penn National Gaming Inc., said in an e-mailed response the company was still discussing the future of its racing assets with co-owner MI Developments Inc.
The Maryland Racing Commission rejected the companies’ plans Nov. 29 to hold fewer than 50 live racing days at Laurel Park and Pimlico in 2011, down from about 140 this year. This means there are currently no race dates, including the Preakness Stakes, on the schedule for 2011.
“Maintaining of the status quo, including keeping the training facility open, simply is not financially viable,” Schippers said.
The companies could present a new proposal to the commission as early as its next meeting on Dec. 21.
The Bowie Training Center, in operation since 1914, houses 660 horses and 86 trainers. Live racing there ceased in 1985.
Bruce C. Spizler, senior assistant attorney general for the state racing commission, said the facility cannot be closed unless a state law requiring it to remain open is repealed. He said that state law requires Bowie to be open to provide stall space for horses running at Laurel Park and Pimlico.
Prince George’s County agreed to change the 173-acre property’s zoning in 2006 from rural to open space. The rezoning limits the number of new homes that could be built on the land. The city of Bowie has been concerned by what could be happen to the property if it were sold and developed. City Manager David Deutsch said he would prefer to see the property maintained as a horse training facility but is keeping a close eye on the situation as it progresses.
“There’s a lot of history here, and it’s a very important part of thoroughbred racing,” Deutsch said.
For now, the city continues to monitor the issue and will confer with its lobbyist, Leonard L. Lucchi, and legislative delegation. The city would fight to uphold the state legislation, unless legislators decided to repeal or modify the statute. Deutsch said it is possible for the Jockey Club’s owners to make a case for closing the Bowie center if the properties were sold off separately.
Penn National’s announcement came after a Nov. 2 voter referendum in Anne Arundel County. Penn National and Maryland Jockey Club had hoped county residents would vote against the referendum, opening the door for it to pursue a slots parlor at Laurel. Instead, voters approved the referendum, allowing Baltimore’s Cordish Cos. to build another casino at the Arundel Mills shopping mall.
But without slot machines to keep people coming to Laurel Park, Penn National has previously said Laurel Park will convert to a simulcast and off-track betting business.
There are five other off-track betting sites in Maryland at restaurants in Frederick, North East and Colonial Beach, as well as at the Pimlico and Ocean Downs race tracks.
rbernstein@bizjournals.com or (410) 454-0540.
Twitter.com/rachelbernstein Reporter Daniel J. Sernovitz contributed to this story.