As a child my grandmothers use to take me to the horse track in Temple Hills and Laurel Maryland just about every other weekend.  Back then I was more interested in playing Ms Pac man and Defender than betting if a horse named “Charlie” would “Win”, “Place”, or “show”. I could care less about what an “exacta” was.  I would help my grandmother pick the horse based on how pretty the colt looked. I can’t recall if I ever won her any money. I just remember the good hot dogs and that all time high score in I got playing Defender at the horse track. 

Just like Kentucky, Maryland has a rich tradition when it comes to thoroughbred horse racing.  Every year close to hundreds of thousands of people flock to Maryland’s 136 year old Pilmico Race Course to see the second stage of horse racing’s Triple Crown series “The Preakness Stakes”.   This years’ 131st running of Maryland’s famous race drew a record crowd of 118,402.  I sat there and watch as Kentucky derby winner and triple crown favorite Barbaro suffer a devastating leg fracture which more likely ended this colt’s racing career but is also life threatening. 

The race was won by Bernardini, a horse that had raced just three times in his career and is owned by the ruler of Dubai Sheik Mohammed al Maktoum.  Bernardini overpowered Sweetnorthernsaint in the stretch and drew away to win by 5 1/4 lengths, However it appeared that most of the record crowd of 118,402 were focused on Barbaro.  I was too.

Once a year the state of Maryland can shows the country that we are a major player in horse racing, but as the Washington Times stated...

“Attendance has declined 50 percent at Pimlico and Laurel Park since 1989, according to the Maryland Jockey Club. The amount of money wagered dropped to $337 million last year from $433 million in 1999. Several of Maryland's top trainers still are headquartered in the state, but they more often are sending their horses to run in richer races elsewhere. “

Maryland is slowing turning its back on the Horse racing industry.  As thousands of people converge to this area each year for the job opportunities the sense of history about this region and its rich tradition fades.  As each year passes the position of horse racing in Maryland becomes more perilous.  Some argue that the future of horse racing hinges on whether the legislators of Maryland will pass a bill to bring slots to various race tracks in the state.  Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, pledged when he took office four years ago to bring slots to Maryland tracks. However, a measure to approve slots died in the General Assembly in March, the fourth straight year gambling legislation failed.  The Maryland General assembly is controlled by anti business Democrats who could care less about horse racing.  As Ryan O'Halloran of the Washington Times writes…

“Maryland racing faces ever-increasing competition from out-of-state tracks that have slot machines. Racetracks in the neighboring states of West Virginia and Delaware added slots in the past decade, generating revenue used to increase the purses awarded to winning horses and attract better fields. Harness and thoroughbred tracks in seven states already have slots or video lottery terminals, and tracks in three other states, including nearby Pennsylvania, plan to add gambling as well.”

I’ve been to Race track in Charles Town West Virginia (which is only an hour drive from my house) I can’t even begin to count how many people from Maryland I’ve met there.  The consensus is that they would definitely stay home if they had the chance.  Furthermore, in the Washington Times Article…

 “Local thoroughbred owner Ted Theos lives in Baltimore and, like Miss Goodall, thinks the state will lose its top talent if purses don't keep up.
    "It would help the industry, and I sure hope it happens," he said. "If we don't get it, all of our trainers would leave for the better money. It's a must. ... I guess everybody is waiting for the right time to pass it so they can take credit for it."  If slot machines are ultimately approved, Miss Goodall said it will be time well-spent, not wasted.
    "It's been frustrating for a lot of reasons," she said. "It's hard for us to understand how the state politicians can watch other states implement it and reap the benefits. ... It's hard to see all of this money flowing out of our state."

Yet, the Obstrcuticrats (Obstructing Democrats) in their efforts to ensure Gov. Ehrlich doesn’t get re-elected are the ones that are blocking the passage of the slots bill.  If the slot initiative was put on a ballot, to be voted by the people of Maryland, then I would not have any problems with the outcome.   I don’t want to see the “Preakness” leave Maryland, but if it does this should be a wake up call to Marylanders to elect officials who give a damn about the Old Line State.  We sent a message to Annapolis when we elected Gov. Ehrlich and Lt Gov. Steele.  It is time to send another message to Annapolis and fire the legislatures, starting with the Speaker of the House.

If my grandmother was living today, I know she would still want to go the race track.  She would probably have me take her to West Virginia or Delaware instead.  I will make sure I get to the Preakness next year, this might be one of last chances to see on of the greatest horse racing events in my state. Unless it goes to West Virginia, which only takes me 15 minutes longer to get there than Baltimore.

 Sources:

Betting On Slots (Washington Times)

Favorite Fractures Leg at Preakness (Washington Post)