BIDDEFORD — Preservation of the harness racing industry and bringing jobs to Biddeford were among the reasons given at a press conference in Mechanics Park on Wednesday for why Biddeford voters should approve building a racetrack and racino in their city when they go to the polls on Nov. 2.

It was also announced that the proposed location for the complex, which would include a hotel, restaurant and shops, would be west of the Biddeford turnpike exit, off Route 111.

The exact site ”“ for what is being called Biddeford Downs and the associated racino, hotel and entertainment complex ”“ hasn’t been locked down. The preferred location is an 85-acre parcel of property owned by the city, off the Andrews Road, said Mayor Joanne Twomey.

The mayor, representatives from Scarborough Downs, the harness racing industry and Ocean Properties LTD, the raceway’s partner on the proposed Biddeford project, released some of the details of the plans Wednesday.

Sharon Terry, owner of Scarborough Downs, said the company approached Biddeford because it had tried to get a racino passed several times by Scarborough voters but failed.

“We felt it was time to try somewhere else,” she said, adding that slot machine revenue is important to the preservation of the harness racing industry.

For Twomey, it’s the promise of bringing an estimated 500 new jobs to the area ”“ down from the previous estimate of 900 jobs ”“ that is one of the main attractions.

“People come to my office every day looking for jobs,” she said.

There would also be hundreds of construction jobs associated with the project, said Twomey.

In addition, with the specter of less state aid to education and rising property taxes in the near future, the mayor said, she needs to bring new revenue to the area.

Besides the property taxes on the estimated $125 million complex, there would be special gaming revenue from the racetrack and racino going into Biddeford’s coffers. The city could expect to receive an estimated $5 million annually from these sources, according to press material.

Along with bringing jobs and revenue to the city, Twomey said, she favored the proposal because, “It’s about agriculture, it’s about open space, it’s about farms, it’s about everything that Maine stands for.”

“Without farms there would be no racing,” said Donald Marean, a director of the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association and the owner of a small horse breeding farm in Hollis.

The equine industry, in which harness racing plays a major role, is important to the state’s agricultural industry, he said. There are 35,000 horses in Maine, said Marean, and 3,500 of those are involved in harness racing. Of the one million acres of open space in the state, 20 percent of that is used for horses, he said.

“Think about agriculture when you go to the polls,” Marean said.

The Walsh family, the founders and principals of Ocean Properties, have a history with harness racing, said Tom Varley, the vice president of operations. Although the company focuses on hotel development and is one of the largest privately held hotel companies in North America, “Tom (Walsh) really believes this is a tradition worth saving,” said Varley.

If built, the facility will be “unmatched by any other racetrack” in the Northeast, said Varley.

This is a “once in a lifetime opportunity for Biddeford,” he said.

Some Biddeford residents who attended the press conference were not convinced.

“As a downtown business owner, I’m highly skeptical this will help the downtown,” said Tammy Ackerman.

“I think it’s bad economic development,” said Kyle Noble. “This is an expansion of high stakes gambling. ”¦ This is to enrich corporations.

“I might feel differently if this were wholly owned by the people because then it (the city) would have all the money to help the people who do go broke on this,” said Noble.

If residents pass the referendum approving a racetrack and racino on Nov. 2, the process will be far from over. Changes to state law would be necessary, which could be passed either by the Legislature or by Maine residents in a statewide referendum.

If the project gets through all those hurdles, the Planning  Board and other review panels must also give permission.

A public forum about the proposed racetrack and racino will be held Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the City Theater on Main Street in Biddeford. It is free and open to the public.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.