It appears that Maryland’s third casino, which will help fuel racing in the state, will not get underway until late next year, and then on the refurbished first floor of a parking garage.

The president of the Cordish Companies, Joseph Weinberg, told a state panel that the company planned to start work on a temporary small version of its Maryland Live! entertainment project soon, with 2,000 slots, as a completely enclosed facility while it works on the full project, which will have 4,750 slots when it opens in late 2012.

Already in operation is Penn National’s Perryville operation, with 1,500 machines, and another 800 are due to begin humming in January at Ocean Downs.

A downtown Baltimore site will be re-bid before summer, with the state’s fifth authorized casino, in western Maryland, drawing no interest from bidders or builders.

(Harness Tracks of America)