The venerable Scarborough Downs, which opened in this Maine town in 1950 and was sold to new owners early last year, for the first time in many years has reversed its long decline in revenues.
The Downs, once described as “Maine’s Showplace of Harness Racing,” in recent years fell on hard times. Last year’s revenues increased for the first time since 2006.
That encouraged new horses to be entered in the races because of larger purses. Now the owners face the challenges of trying to encourage more attendance and to spend money on giving the aging facilities a face lift.
Crossroads Holdings LLC spokesman Rocco “Roccy” Risbara told the Press Herald, “We’re still thinking that it’s going to continue for the foreseeable future. We’re pleased with what they’re doing there.”
Plans are to develop some of the 500 acres into a mixed-use center to be called The Downs, which would include residential development, a business park and a recreational sports complex.
The racetrack’s future is not guaranteed, however. It is one of two remaining harness racing tracks in Maine. Risbara said his group plans to negotiate a lease extension to the Terry family, who continue to operate the racetrack despite selling the property.
Meanwhile, Crossroads is conducting a feasibility study of repairing the 6,500-seat grandstand and racetrack.
Risbara said the project could take decades to complete. “We’ll keep developing and eventually we’ll figure out what makes sense for the racetrack portion of the site,” he said. “As we start to get occupancies and people living there, it may help (the track). It certainly won’t hurt them, getting people around.”
