This page belongs to you.
We asked Feb. 28 for your comments about key issues surrounding horse racing in Maryland: slot machines, management of Pimlico and Laurel Park and the possible construction of a new horse track.
You responded in torrents -- more than 150 of you -- by e-mail, telephone and letter. You were nothing if not passionate.
What follows are excerpts of responses from readers who gave us permission to publish their names and opinions. Listed alphabetically, these excerpts are representative of the responses we received.
Also, Joe De Francis, the controlling stockholder of Pimlico and Laurel Park, responds to your comments.
To join a further discussion about Maryland racing, visit The Sun's online bulletin board at www.sunspot.net/talk.
Tom Keyser
Customers alienated
Did De Francis do everything for Maryland racing before asking for slots? The real question is: Did De Francis do ANYTHING for Maryland racing before asking for slots?
[He should] quit alienating customers through poor customer service and a general apathetic attitude toward their feelings. De Francis does not realize that a team takes on the personality of its head coach. A CEO cannot expect his employees to be customer-friendly and customer-savvy if he himself is not demonstrating these attributes in front of the employees.
Michael J. Baca, racing fan Slidell, La. (formerly from Laurel)
Tracks in bad shape
I'm not sure that slots are the only way to help the tracks, but it sure seems like they might be the quickest fix to a deteriorating situation. My fear is that the bulk of the money would go into Mr. De Francis' and partners' pockets.
I believe that Mr. De Francis has generated a negative "snowball" effect by letting the tracks fall into disrepair. I believe he did this to have a rallying point in his argument for slots. He very well couldn't make a case for slots if the tracks were beautiful and the purses were high, now could he?
Yet I do not have access to Joe's books. I do not know how much it costs to maintain the tracks. I can only see the physical deterioration of the facilities, and I know they are in bad shape.
Thomas Baldwin, horse owner Eldersburg
Slots a logical step
Slot machines, phone betting, community outreach, better physical facilities, all these are sensible and logical steps for the 21st century. Without them, racing's future here is quite shaky.
Jerry Carton, racing fan Pikesville Too busy counting money
You would always see his father out among the real bettors, asking about ways to improve the product for fans. I've never seen this guy out among the common people. I guess he's too busy counting his money and crying about slots.
The appalling conditions at the tracks (especially Pimlico) show that Joe De Francis has no business running Maryland racing. Build a new fan-friendly track before we lose the Preakness (or lives are lost at the Preakness because of the deplorable conditions), and keep Joe De Francis as far away from it as possible.
Brian Coyle, racing fan Gaithersburg
Level the playing field
Why has the issue of slots at Maryland racetracks continually been portrayed as a negative alternative? Isn't it true that the state of Delaware has benefited and continues to benefit from having slots at the track? In fact, since slots debuted at Delaware tracks in 1995, they have realized over $10 billion in revenue.
Could this be something personal that Gov. Glendening has against Mr. De Francis for not supporting him during the last election? Are we Marylanders and our children supposed to suffer because Mr. Glendening got his feelings hurt?
Mr. De Francis is not looking for a taxpayer handout. He's only asking us to level the playing field. Yes, his business would prosper, but so would the people of Maryland.
Linda DiGeorge, racing fan Ellicott City
Little things important
I don't see why De Francis needs to reject the little things he could do just because he can't do the one big thing that would make the biggest difference. The fact is that the little things will still be making a difference if we do get slots.
The tracks get tons of suggestions that primarily go ignored, the main issues being customer service and comfort issues.
I feel very strongly about Pimlico. It is, to me, sacred holy ground walked by all 11 Triple Crown winners. I see a new track as a major threat to Pimlico and its status as home to the Preakness. Now, if the state wanted to buy Pimlico and remodel it, I could be behind that project 100 percent.
Diane Hain, racing fan Essex
New track needed
I can't say the man's done a bad job, especially within the past three years with the renovations he's made at Laurel. But horse racing in Maryland needs something to give it a lift. And I don't think slot machines are the answer.
I think we need a new track. It would be an incentive for people, especially young people, to go to the races.
Christopher Hoerl, racing fan Millersville
Tracks must stay current
Slots are the way to go. The state of Maryland can't go on subsidizing racing forever. Under De Francis ownership, father and son, there has been a consistent effort to stay current with all the best innovations. It has been the state of Maryland's legislators and now the governor who have repeatedly slowed down or blocked changes. Given the legislative environment that the De Francis family has had to confront, I think things have gone as well as one could reasonably expect.
Hal Holzman, racing fan Columbia
Don't subsidize
As much as Marylanders want horse racing to prosper, there's no reason for the average citizen to subsidize track owners by giving them -- for free -- a slots monopoly that's easily worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The owners include wealthy individuals as well as Leucadia National Corporation, a billion-dollar company traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Jeff Hooke, racing fan Chevy Chase
Racing self-destructing
The state should look to an owner who would make Maryland racing his priority (not Virginia or Texas). Have the tracks and facilities become user-friendly. Clean up our existing facilities. Make the OTB parlors look more professional. Make use of the infields. Look into night racing.
Mr. De Francis has done nothing for the sport of racing. I love racing, but I'm seeing it self-destruct under the present conditions.
Don B. Hopkins, retired groom Davidsonville
Off the high horse
The governor gets on his political high horse and preaches the sins of gambling. But new lottery games abound. Hey, Gov, forget your pride and do what's best for the state and allow slots.
Jarrod C. Horak, racing fan Baltimore
Make tracks for families
I think the state should sell lottery tickets to subsidize the renovation of Pimlico and turn Laurel and Pimlico into places the entire family can go. Pimlico is a depressing environment. I go once in a while with my racing buddies, but it's kind of like going to a strip bar with your pals. That's the feeling one gets at our tracks.
Steve Janofsky, racing fan Baltimore
Know the customer
The duty of a business owner is to know his customer. Mr. De Francis does not. But it doesn't matter as long as he can garner enough votes in the state legislature.
Robert H. Lee, racing fan Pasadena
Inheriting responsibility
I think he inherited an enormous load and economic responsibility. He had to wake up one day and suddenly be the czar of Maryland racing.
He's saddled with the legacy, with his family's estate. I think he's trying to do the best he can -- without passion.
Don Litz, bloodstock agent Butler
Don't play games
Please don't use us as a pawn in this political game, because we are the ones who suffer irreparable damage, not Joe De Francis, not Gov. Glendening.
Of the 15,000 people employed by the racing industry in Maryland, Joe De Francis is one -- one! There are 14,999 others. Give us slots or give us our subsidy. Just do something.
Cynthia McGinnes, Thornmar horse farm owner Chestertown
No results
It's not the lack of "doing," it's the lack of results. He has tried quite a few things, but he has botched them all. (Rosecroft, off-track betting, Texas venture, Colonial Downs come to mind.) Let's face it, he botched up the slots thing, too. A more engaging, persuasive person (his father) might have them by now.
I can't think of anything good to say. He has alienated anyone and everyone -- the governor to start with.
Give him five more years of his monopoly. Request proposals for the right to run Maryland racing for, say, 10 years, starting in 2004. The state would pick the best proposal.
John M. Murphy, racing fan Millersville
Back seat for racing?
My fear with slots is that racing will then take a back seat and will not be promoted properly. De Francis has not been a good steward for racing and has not managed the tracks well. One walk around the backstretch will tell anyone all they need to know.
I do believe that we need new management or competition in the state. If that means the state has to build a new track, then I would be for it. [The tracks] are desperately in need of improved customer service, security and fan education. All of these can be improved without the benefits of slots.
Bill Powder, horse owner Hampstead
Sad situation
After not going to the track for three or four years, I took some friends to Laurel about three years ago. It was dirty. It was smelly. I was embarrassed to tell my friends that I had once been a big part of this.
The next summer, we went to Delaware Park. It was clean and comfortable and 100 percent different. I know some of that's because of slots money, but I just don't think that management of the tracks in Maryland has done much to make the tracks very appealing.
How about some amenities -- some shops, comfortable chairs, nice restaurants? If my friends want to go to the track now, I take them to Delaware Park. That's really sad.
Jane Rettaliata, former horse owner, trainer, jockey's wife Ellicott City
New owner, but not state
I do not think the state of Maryland should get into the racing business at all, whether to build a new track or manage it. Everyone knows what happens when the government gets involved in things.
What I think should happen is, De Francis should sell the track and racing facilities to the larger racing interests such as Churchill Downs or Santa Anita that have the capability to make the sport grow and above all have the money to do it.
Harold Schwartz, racing fan Columbia
Honorable businessman
I think Joe De Francis most likely did do everything possible to advance Maryland racing before he turned to slots. I cannot profess to know all the details, but I do know he is an intelligent, honorable and dedicated businessman.
Kathryn Stasak, racing fan Ellicott City
Can't compete
De Francis may not be great, but he's updated and enhanced the Laurel facility, advertised the main events such as Maryland Million Day (which was a huge success last year) and promoted the Pony Pals Club for kids (which is tons of fun). There are still improvements to be made (I keep telling them they need a playground), but, for the most part, I don't believe he can compete with the high dollar support coming from slots in neighboring states (which are heavily supported by Marylanders).
Pam Thames, racing fan Davidsonville
No riches for owner
I don't blame De Francis for wanting slots. But I don't think he's entitled to become rich because of them. The money derived from slots should go to the state and to purses, not to De Francis.
Steven Wallach, racing fan Columbia
Treat racing fairly
On one hand, we do not believe that Mr. De Francis has done everything possible to enhance racing and enlarge its demographic base. On the other hand, we believe that the state needs to either allow the tracks to have slots, or it needs to treat racing the same way it has treated the Orioles and Ravens -- with enormous subsidies and incentives.
Alice and Larry Wolf, horse owners Columbia
Pub Date: 3/25/99