Racing Gets Blamed, Again

Deval Patrick, governor of Massachusetts, told reporters yesterday that racing’s recalcitrance in aggressively pushing for slots at tracks in the state could delay his wish for three casinos without track slots until next year.

Patrick said differences between him and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, leader of the slots-at-tracks movement, could be too great to overcome, and that he may not get to sign legislation this year.

He said, “I think there’s a compromise in here that I could support that offers some kind of support for traditional racing. I don’t exactly know what that is.”

He mentioned purse increases but also said his position on slots had not changed.

(Harness Tracks of America)