MD Racing Commission rejects offer to buy harness track

Daily Record, The (Baltimore), May 12, 2004 by Andrea Cecil

After three exhaustive days of testimony, the fate of Rosecroft Raceway still hangs in the balance.

In a 6-to-1 vote at Pimlico Race Course yesterday, the Maryland Racing Commission voted against selling the struggling Prince George's County harness track to Northwind Racing LLC.

Northwind, created by 20-year track veterinarian Mark Ricigliano, had proposed buying the track for $9 million. The application stipulated that Rosecroft be permitted to build an off-track betting facility and broadcast thoroughbred racing without compensating the Maryland Jockey Club, which represents thoroughbred racing in the state.

The condition threw commissioners for a loop, leaving them to debate for 30 minutes among themselves on how to vote. Commissioners argued whether they should vote on Northwind's entire application, or if they should separately vote on the issue of cross-breed simulcasting and then the application.

The commission's vote means more uncertain times for Fort Washington's harness track.

Thomas F. Chuckas Jr., chief executive officer of track owner Cloverleaf Enterprises Inc., said the decision was disappointing, and that Rosecroft officials will decide what to do in the next one to two weeks.

We're going to take a step back, he said. We're going to spend the next couple of days reviewing our situation.

The Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association, the group of horsemen behind Cloverleaf Enterprises, in December approved the track's sale to Northwind, with confidence that Ricigliano had its best interests at heart. The association turned down offers from such high-profile names as Harrah's Entertainment and Pimlico owner Magna Entertainment.

Indiana-based Centaur Racing had missed the November deadline to close on its proposed purchase of Rosecroft, and is awaiting a court decision as to whether it is the rightful buyer of the property.

Meanwhile, Ricigliano, who also runs Laurel-based telecommunications company LightWave Communications, yesterday said he is finished with Rosecroft in every capacity.

Ricigliano already owns the $7.2 million mortgage on Rosecroft, and said he hopes sell the mortgage within the next 30 days. He also said he will retire as the track veterinarian as soon as possible.

He added, I am extremely disappointed that the Maryland Racing Commission did not have the foresight to approve our application. We wish everyone involved with Rosecroft Raceway the best in their future endeavors.

Greg Trotto, a trainer and standardbred owner at Rosecroft, said it's possible that the commission's decision means the end of Rosecroft.

This was our glimmer of hope, he said. It's gong to be hard to find somebody to invest in this, I imagine.

Chuckas said when Rosecroft was closed in the daytime from April 19 through May 9, the track's handle was down $8 million, putting the track's future viability in doubt.