Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

The Maryland Racing Commission has approved the sale of Rosecroft Raceway to Georgia Angelos, wife of Peter Angelos, majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles.

According to a story at Bloodhorse.com, the new owners, Rosecroft Holdings, will pay $13 million for the track, of which $7.2 million has already been advanced to pay off the track’s mortgage. The track has also received $500,000 as a deposit and the balance of $5.3 million will be paid at closing.

The sales agreement guarantees 150 days of racing and purses of about $43,000 a day. Last year, Rosecroft raced 117 days and paid purses of about $41,000 a day.

Slots are not legal in Maryland and it has long been a contentious issue in the legislature, but the involvement of the Aneglos family is seen by some as a harbinger of progress in legalization of slots. “Having Peter Angelos in the corner of the people trying to get slots to help racing and breeding is a good thing,” says Tom McDonough, chairman of the Maryland Racing Commission. “We’ve got to get some help from the legislature. I think Peter helps us in that respect. He gets things done.”