Opposition to off-track betting at the Maryland State Fairgrounds is lessening as local officials receive assurances it won’t become a casino.
The Maryland Racing Commission already approved the Jockey Club’s development plan to build an off-track betting parlor that would he open all year and enable bettors to wager on races run around the globe.
The Jockey Club would own and run the betting operation, which would be located on the fairgrounds grandstand’s second floor. It already has similar operations at Pimlico Race Course, The Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, and the Riverboat on the Potomac.
Opposing the plan, though, is Baltimore County Councilman Wade Kach, who recently introduced a measure that would ban off-track betting at the Maryland State Fairgrounds.
Kach is concerned the betting operation might eventually become a full-scale casino, rather than just an off-track betting operation, and says the Jockey Club has been so secretive in the planning process that he introduced the measure to protect the local community. Kach’s proposal still would allow gaming on the site for 10 days each year during the annual Maryland State Fair.
Kach said, though, that he is willing to withdraw the measure if the Jockey Club gives formal assurance that it won’t open a casino on the site for at least a decade.
Jockey Club President Sal Sinatra apologized to community members during a recent public hearing, saying he was sorry the community didn’t have full information on the plan sooner. Sinatra adamantly denied the Jockey Club would open a full casino, and said the club “loathes” them.
Additional meetings are scheduled on the matter.
If approved, the State Fairgrounds would get about $500,000 in annual revenue sharing, according to the Jockey Club. The money would be earmarked for maintenance costs.
