Plainridge cuts 157 — blames governor
August 4, 2010,from Harness Tracks of America
Tucson, AZ — Gary Piontkowski, president and CEO of HTA member Plainridge Racecourse, announced the layoff of 57 track employees and 100 contractors’ employees working on a slots project yesterday, blaming Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, who has effectively killed chances for a racino that the legislature had overwhelmingly approved.
“The governor obviously doesn’t think that the jobs or expansion at the racetracks is worthwhile. He took a position contrary to the overwhelming support of the Legislature and now families we’ve employed for years are wondering where their next paycheck will come from. In this time of recession, there are not lots of people willing to invest $200 million and take the risk, but we are.”
A spokeswoman for the governor told the Boston Herald that Patrick’s amended bill, which eliminates racinos entirely but faces a dubious fate, “gives special consideration to casino applicants who agree to hire any workers or employees of existing tracks.”
- Massachusetts House and Senate confer on gaming bill (Tuesday, July 06, 2010)
With the Massachusetts House and Senate now having their own bills on expanded gaming, the fate of slots at the state’s four racetracks now moves to the critical stage: conference committee.
- Piontkowski challenges governor’s stance on racinos (Monday, July 19, 2010)
Gary Piontkowski, the president and CEO of Plainridge Racecourse, scored with a major story in the Boston Herald giving racing’s side of the battle for slots in the Bay State.
- Compromise gaming bill in Massachusetts (Friday, July 30, 2010)
A compromise gaming bill is expected to be in the hands of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Friday or Saturday.
- Massachusetts Governor defies 73 percent vote (Monday, August 02, 2010)
The governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, showed contempt for his legislature and his dislike for racing on Sunday, vowing to overturn the overwhelming 73 percent approval by the legislators of a gambling expansion calling for three casinos and two racinos, the latter to be won by bidding from the state’s four tracks.
- Hardy ponders future of racing in Massachusetts (Tuesday, August 10, 2010)
Jim Hardy, Plainridge’s leading driver, was searching for answers as he made his way to the paddock.
- Massachusetts slots dead for 2010 (Wednesday, August 25, 2010)
Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo made fairly clear yesterday that it’s over for this year as far as slots at tracks are concerned.