Selectmen Vote to Reverse Decision to Disallow Track

In the on-again-off-again saga, the plan to develop a new live Thoroughbred racetrack in Massachusetts is back in play.

At a meeting of the Board of Selectmen of the town of Hardwick, Mass. on the evening of Nov. 9 the board voted 2-1 to reverse its 3-0 unanimous vote Oct. 27 to disallow the track. 

Citizens in the large assembled crowd presented a petition with 427 signatures of registered voters in favor of the proposal from Commonwealth Equine and Agricultural Center to develop a new Thoroughbred racetrack and equine center in the community. There remains a faction of townsfolk opposed to the racetrack, and by state law they have the right to now gather a counter-petition signed by 12% of the town's registered voters, about 250 people, to appeal the 2-1 vote. 

In the event the opposition gets the necessary verified signatures to appeal the board's latest decision, it would force a town-wide referendum at the ballot box and that could come as late as early January.

"We're back in the game," said an upbeat Paul Umbrello, the executive director of the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. "With 427 people signing the petition to have a new racetrack in their town, tonight it showed that there is local support for the project. We're moving forward and we hope we're racing next year." 

Meanwhile, the principals in Commonwealth Equine and Agricultural Center filed a completed application for a license to conduct 2023 live Thoroughbred racing dates with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which also regulates all racing and simulcasting in the state, by the mandated deadline of Oct. 1. Under state statute, the MGC has a deadline of Nov. 15 to render its decision.

But when the Hardwick Board of Selectmen nixed the racetrack proposal Oct.  27, the license application became moot. BloodHorse was unable to get confirmation on Wednesday night, but there will likely be an emergency session now called for Nov. 14 or 15 so the gaming commissioners can vote on Commonwealth Equine and Agricultural Center's application for the license. 

Also at stake is the Thoroughbred horsemen's share of the Racehorse Development Fund, which is fueled by a percentage of the revenue from the Massachusetts full casinos and slots machine parlor. With no live racing in the state and the few remaining breeders hanging on by their fingernails, the RHDF is at increased risk of being stripped by the legislature. Currently, there is close to $30 million belonging to the Thoroughbred horsemen for purses, breeders' awards, and backstretch welfare being held in an escrow account.