Penn National continues to expand its Maryland gaming empire. In addition to its ownership stake in the Maryland Jockey Club (which owns Laurel Park and Pimlico), Penn National owns Maryland’s first active slots parlor, Perryville Hollywood Casinos in Cecil County. Now, Penn has plunked down a cool $10+ million for the shuttered Rosecroft just outside of Washington D.C. in Prince George’s County.
According to news reports, Penn National intends to reopen harness racing at Rosecroft as well as lobby for slots at Rosecroft, just as they are doing for Laurel. All of these efforts will require changes to the Maryland Constitution, as Maryland law does not allow one owner to hold more than one slots license, nor does Maryland law currently allow more than one slots parlor in Anne Arundel (and the Cordish Companies already hold the slots license designated for the Anne Arundel County area). Rosecroft is also not a dedicated slots location in Maryland law.
Penn National outbid two others for the bankrupt racetrack, including Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos. The sale still needs to be approved by the bankruptcy court.
Meanwhile, this evening, Orioles Park will host the celebration for the Maryland Horse Council’s Maryland Horse Person of the Year, Bob Eldredge (7 p.m. in The Warehouse at Camden Yards. In a refreshing change from the racing drama that dominates “equine industry news” on t.v., WJZ’s Denise Koch aired this story on Bob Eldredge on her Channel 13 news broadcast Friday, January 28, 2011.
************
For more information on the Rosecroft purchase: Baltimore Sun’s Hana Cho, Jan. 28, 2011
The Equiery’s article on the 2010 Maryland Horseman of the Year, Bob Eldredge, written by Margaret Worrall.
Join the over 200 Maryland horse people attending tonight’s party at The Warehouse at Camden Yards! Tickets are still available; contact Margaret Rizzo at admin@mdhorsecouncil.orgor 301-502-8929.
