In two days, prospective owners of the bankrupt Rosecroft Raceway will have the chance to outdo the stalking-horse bid of Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos. If proposed legislation materializes, the track could also have racing and a racino in two years

.

The auction of the track is still on for Friday, with Angelos and Penn National Gaming the leading contenders. Either way, Mark Vogel, who once owned the track and now holds a note that assures him $5 million or so, is a certain winner.

Vogel is not a bidder for ownership, having failed to get bankruptcy court approval, but he did buy a note from the bank which had been holding it some time ago, and stands to do well Friday.

Meanwhile, as it seems to happen frequently, two powerful Democratic legislative leaders are butting heads once again. The president of the Senate, Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., plans to support a bill seeking public approval for table games in the state, including a sixth location -- Rosecroft Raceway.

Miller answered criticism of such a move by saying, “We’re not talking about Snow White’s farm. There’s been gambling on horse racing there for decades.”

His way is blocked, however, by the Speaker of the House, Michael E. Busch, who asked reporters, “What’s the urgency of this year,” and pointed out that the earliest a statewide vote could be held on table games would be November of 2012.

It appears it could be two years before the clip-clop of hooves and whir of slots might be heard at Rosecroft.

(Harness Tracks of America)

Related Stories

• Rosecroft Sale To Occur January 28
• Senate Pres. Backs Angelos' Rosecroft Bid
• Orioles Owner Angelos Bids On Rosecroft