NEWS
Maryland Jockey Club auction rescheduled
Posted: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 10:37 AM
by Frank Angst
Maryland’s efforts to assure the next Maryland Jockey Club owner will keep the Preakness Stakes (G1) in the state contributed to a bankruptcy judge pushing back a scheduled auction date.
Judge Mary Walrath, of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, postponed Friday’s scheduled auction of Maryland Jockey Club properties, a roster that includes Pimlico Race Course, Laurel Park, and the Preakness, to January 21. The Maryland tracks and the state’s signature sporting event are being auctioned as part of the Magna Entertainment Corp. bankruptcy.
The state of Maryland has asserted a right of first refusal of bidders as it tries to assure the Preakness will stay in the state. The Baltimore Sun reported Magna representatives agreed in court on Tuesday to work with bidders to provide reassurances to Maryland that the Preakness would remain in the state.
The Sun also reported Magna will be allowed to end a profit-sharing agreement with Joe De Francis and other former MJC owners, who had an agreement they thought would pay them from future slot machine revenues. De Francis told the Sun that he had not decided if he would appeal.
De Francis is one of six expected bidders for the upcoming MJC auction, along with Jeff Seder’s Blow Horn Equity, Cordish Co., MI Developments Inc., Penn National Gaming Inc., and Kevin Plank.
Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times
