It emerged last week that an agreement is in place to see the ownership of Maine’s Scarborough Downs change hands. With the future of the track currently unknown, some local horsepeople have commented on the situation.
“I love it here, but the place needs a little work,” horse owner Michel Bilodeau was quoted as saying in an article by The Forecaster. “We are definitely hoping it stays a racetrack.”
The track's 67th season of live harness racing began last Saturday (March 25) and track officials noted that the expectations are for the meet to be completed in its entirety.
The Forecaster report has also quoted Thomas Powers, a Massachusetts developer that is spearheading the potential purchase, as saying that his group is “excited” about the potential sale, and that the acquisition would be a “unique and interesting opportunity.”
Powers’ group in still in the midst of its due diligence phase. According to the article, Powers has said that the racetrack and the property features “a lot of deferred maintenance,” but that his group would like to ‘re-brand, recapitalize, and refurbish the track’ if it is feasible.
“I think (Scarborough Downs) needs work. I think it’s a great place. They have a lot to offer,” racetrack patron Bill Bates said. “They can always put more care into it, but you can say that about any track. But most of the track is pretty good.”
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(With files from The Forecaster)