Horse-racing leaders plead for life support

ANNAPOLIS — Maryland horse-racing leaders pleaded for financial aid yesterday before a Senate committee, just hours after they canceled the second most prestigious race in the state.

The leaders told the Senate Finance Committee that they need $30 million over the next two years to stay in business and that the industry would support legalizing slot machines and increasing taxes.

However, Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, has said he will not consider legalizing slots or increasing taxes this year. House Speaker Michael E. Busch, Anne Arundel County Democrat, said he would not support slots this year, but has not ruled out the idea completely.

“We’d support any [slots] legislation, even if it’s tied to a tax package,” said Alan M. Foreman, counsel to the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.

The plea was issued three hours after the Maryland Jockey Club announced that it would cancel the Pimlico Special, the $500,000 race run the day before the Preakness and featured in the movie “Seabiscuit.”

“Unfortunately, we have no choice,” said Lou Raffetto, president and chief operating officer of the Maryland Jockey Club. “We must do everything we can to keep our average daily overnight purses for our local horsemen as high as possible.”

State leaders have been hesitant to deal with slots and taxes this legislative session, though they support both.

Mr. Busch’s counterpart in the Senate said he isn’t discounting anything.

“I wouldn’t say anything is off the table … just because the governor didn’t introduce legislation,” said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., Prince George’s Democrat. “We’re just going to have to see what happens.”

Slots supporters said they can’t wait one more session.

“We’re in deep [trouble] here with racing in Maryland,” said John Franzone, a member of the Maryland Racing Commission.

Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Thomas McLain Middleton, Charles County Democrat, said he scheduled the hearing only to brief new legislators about the “dire shape” of the state’s horse-racing industry, not to debate slots.

However, the debate quickly turned to slots.

In his four years as governor, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, lobbied hard for legalized slots, but he encountered heavy opposition, led by Mr. Busch, in the Democrat-controlled legislature.

Mr. O’Malley, who defeated Mr. Ehrlich in November, expressed support for legalizing slots during his campaign.

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