Date: 10/26/2022
This document provides information that lays out some of the impacts that horse racing will
have on Hardwick and surrounding towns.
1. Process is too rushed: Not enough time has been given anyone to study and understand the impact this would have. Timeline should not be driven by Commonwealth Racing LLC.
2. Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR): The Goodfields and the state entered into an APR which assures no one can ever develop the land. This should should not be reversed because another state agency wants this site for racing in Massachusetts. A racing track is not agricultural no matter how you disguise it.
3. This is forever: Once the town grants permission to site a racetrack in town, it is forever. Any owner of this site will have the right to continue the operation. The town has no authority. The state has complete authority on this matter.
4. The commitment to the Massachusetts racing commission is clear: Currently, the commission requires a minimum of 20 race days per year. Whoever runs this operation will be pressured by the commission to meet or exceed that minimum.
5. Traffic: Without even doing an impact study, one can clearly imagine the dramatic impact that thousands of cars arriving for events will have on Hardwick, and adjacent towns. Parking is not allowed on the proposed site, and satellite lots will need to be considered across the town.
6. Let us not forget about natural beauty: This would change Hardwick forever. Commonwealth Racing’s slick marketing campaign ignores the dramatic and permanent damage to one of Hardwick’s most precious assets – its natural beauty.
7. The Community Host Agreement is not being written by the host: Commonwealth Racing LLC, will build out the host agreement (not the town) after we give the go ahead to have a track. This is something no one should think is right.
8. Taxes will most likely go up: If this becomes an “agritourism destination” (a race track), real estate assessments, and rents will most likely go up as traffic increases and properties in the area get bought up by developers trying to make a profit.
9. Annual payment offer: The $500,000 promise from Commonwealth Racing group sounds like a large payment, but is unlikely to offset the additional costs and burdens imposed on Hardwick. It will not cover the cost of operating an ambulance.
10. The town will not be able to put a cap on attendees coming to these events: If you build it they will come. Can you imagine if 25,000 people show up like they regularly do at Saratoga racing in NY?
11. We do need revenue: Let’s not look at this as the way to solve our problems, let’s work together to find a better solution to build needed revenue.
This information is a compilation of feedback and open issues provided by many residents of Hardwick. They represent open questions that the Commonwealth Racing LLC team has not answered, nor provided accurate information for the residents to better make a rational decision on this proposal.
Robert Page
On behalf of Hardwick Concerned Citizens
