Magna, Gill send wrong message.
Mike Gill and Magna Entertainment Corp. have a lot in common.
Both of them have made huge investments in the racing business,
and both see themselves as run aground by “politics.”
Magna, thwarted by the failure of slots legislation in Maryland
for the third straight year, has declared that no more money
will be spent on improvements at Pimlico and Laurel until some
form of expanded revenue becomes available.
Gill, whose figures for number of wins dwarfs that of every other
owner in the country, has announced plans to sell all of his
horses, in protest over his perceived treatment by what he describes
as racing’s power elite.
Are they bluffing? It’s too soon to tell. But, if they
are, it’s a misguided effort.
Maryland’s state leaders will not be bullied into swift
passage of slots based on the financial woes of a company that
has been widely noted for its uncontrolled spending.
And Gill’s resignation letter is unlikely to resolve his
stall situation or keep state testing labs from calling medication
positives when warranted.
These two giants need to look into their own business operations,
figure out where improvements can be made, and make them. Placing
the blame on outside forces weakens their credibility, and reflects
poorly on the industry.