The Maryland Racing Commission, the state’s governing body for horse racing, meets Tuesday and the usually hum-drum meeting is slated to be one of the diciest of the year as track officials are expected to put in their final request for next year’s racing schedule.
Last month, officials from track owners MI Developments and Penn National Gaming got shot down by the commission after proposing an anemic, 47-day racing schedule centered — of course — on the profitable Preakness Stakes in May. For the last several years, Maryland’s two thoroughbred tracks have run roughly between 135 and 150 race days.
The number of days in Maryland, where the tradition of racing dates to the mid-1700s — has declined nearly every year as racing has become less profitable for track owners. That’s largely due to slots at racetracks in surrounding states boosting the purses (payout) to race winners.
But even with slots revenue now coming in from Maryland’s new casino in Perryville, owners claimed last month they could only afford to run a boutique-style meet at each track. But after dealing with the immense backlash from racing officials and from those in the industry, word is the owners plan to ask for a 77-day schedule next year.
If the commission doesn’t approve a racing schedule, the coveted Preakness could be in danger of not running in Maryland next year.
