BIDDEFORD – At the picturesque Al Dube Farm on South Street in Biddeford Monday, backers of a $120 million harness race track, slots gaming facility and resort hotel kicked off their campaign for the November ballot.
Statewide this fall, voters will have the opportunity to approve up to three new gaming venues. The first two would be racinos, or combination harness racing and slots, in both Biddeford and Washington County, and the other would be a full-scale casino, with table games, in Lewiston.
Those backing the Biddeford project, which would entail moving the entire Scarborough Downs harness racing operation to the city, argue it would bring in much needed jobs and revenue.
“This is about real jobs for real families,” said Mayor Joanne Twomey. “My own son just lost his job. We can’t turn our backs on this project.”
The racino development, known as Biddeford Downs, consists of a partnership between Scarborough Downs and Ocean Properties, Ltd., which is owned by the Walsh family, and would be built on city-owned land off the Andrews Road, west of the Turnpike.
Although the $120 million project, which developers say would lead to 500 full-time jobs and put about $5 million annually into city coffers, received overwhelming local support in a referendum last fall, the Legislature decided this session to send the issue out to voters statewide on the Nov. 8 ballot.
When it was her turn to speak Monday, Scarborough Downs owner Sharon Terry said, “The harness racing industry is ready to grow and put Maine back to work.”
She called Ocean Properties “the right partner” and said the vote in Biddeford last fall “made it clear that we chose our new home wisely. We have to have slots to be able to compete with other forms of gaming. We need this to survive.”
Tom Varley, vice president of Ocean Properties, said one of the differences between the Biddeford Downs project and other big developments is that both companies are family owned and local.
“We have a proven track record of showing that we put money back into Maine,” he said.
While Ernie Lowell, a local blacksmith, said he’s glad to hear Biddeford Downs will bring hundreds of new jobs to the area, he also said that supporting the two racinos would ensure the future of the family farm in Maine.
“Many farmers rely on racing for their livelihood,” he said. “I’ve been hearing politicians talk about the need for jobs, but there are thousands of current jobs that are at stake and we can’t afford to turn away from this opportunity.”
State Sen. Nancy Sullivan, whose district includes part of Biddeford, is the only legislator from the Biddeford delegation who is supportive of the new racino proposal.
“I’m here because I believe in this project and a year ago Biddeford residents spoke loudly and clearly,” she said. “It’s hogwash to say Biddeford voters didn’t know what they were voting on. They voted for Biddeford Downs because they want jobs and they want to move Biddeford forward.”
Waldoboro businessman Rick Skoglund argued that the debate about gaming in Maine “is over – that was decided when we brought in the lottery – and this project makes good business sense.”
Meanwhile, CasinosNo!, a statewide anti-gambling group, released information last week arguing that even with the help of more than $5 million in annual revenue from Hollywood Slots, Maine’s first racino, Scarborough Downs is attracting fewer patrons and losing money.
“The Biddeford racino referendum is nothing but a bailout for a failing business,” said Dennis Bailey, executive director of CasinosNo! “The evidence is clear that another racetrack casino in Biddeford will not revive harness racing in Maine.”
Sharon Terry, owner of Scarborough Downs, speaks at Monday’s
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