It’s time for Maine to rein in support for harness racing | Opinion

State Funds Keep Harness Racing Alive Amid Decades of Decline

AUGUSTA, Maine — For decades, Maine has quietly funneled millions of taxpayer dollars into the state’s harness racing industry, even as attendance, revenue, and public interest have steadily eroded. Now, those subsidies are drawing renewed criticism from fiscal watchdogs who argue that continued funding lacks justification in an era of growing budget constraints and competing priorities.

Subsidies from Casino Revenues

Much of the funding comes through cascade funds — revenue generated by slot machine operations at Hollywood Casino in Bangor and Oxford Casino in Oxford. These funds are distributed across various public goods, including education scholarships, healthcare programs, and tax relief. However, the largest portion of these allocations continues to support harness racing-related activities.

Between 2005 and 2015, the state allocated approximately $112 million — or about $9.3 million annually — toward five separate line items tied to the industry. From 2016 to 2024, that figure rose slightly to nearly $96.2 million overall, averaging around $12 million per year, despite consistent declines in key performance metrics within the sector itself.

Shrinking Industry, Growing Costs

The numbers tell a stark story. Live betting handles — the total amount wagered on races held at Maine tracks — dropped by more than 30% between 1987 and 1991, falling from $45.2 million to $29.8 million. While off-track betting was introduced to offset some losses, it did little to reverse the downward trajectory.

In 2025, of the $10.8 million processed through Maine’s harness racing and off-track betting systems, only about $1.4 million — just 13% — went toward live races run in-state. The rest was placed on races simulcast from other states, raising questions about whether the majority of wagering activity truly benefits Maine’s own racing product.

Despite receiving over $1 million each in direct state support last year, both Bangor Raceway and First Track Cumberland operated at a loss once again, echoing patterns seen throughout the industry.

“What business model loses millions year after year without changing course?” asked Robert Fisk Jr., a former state legislator from Falmouth and founder of Maine Friends of Animals. “This isn’t a failing startup trying to innovate — it’s an outdated system propped up by public money.”

Accountability Gaps Raise Concerns

Critics also point to structural issues within the oversight framework. When the Fund to Encourage Racing at Maine’s Commercial Tracks was created, there were no requirements for recipients to provide detailed spending reports — a gap that remains today.

Additionally, the Maine Harness Racing Commission serves a dual role: it acts both as regulator and advocate for the very industry it oversees. This arrangement complicates efforts to maintain transparency and enforce fiscal accountability, according to observers.

Fisk emphasized that while other recipients of cascade funds — such as scholarship programs or public health initiatives — face strict reporting standards, the harness racing sector operates with minimal oversight.

“The die was cast years ago,” he said. “Food, veterinary bills, trainer salaries, advertising — these aren’t charitable causes. They’re operating expenses for a private enterprise that should stand on its own.”

Calls for Reckoning Grow Louder

As legislators consider future budget allocations, some advocates are pushing for a reevaluation of the state’s financial commitment to harness racing. With aging facilities and stiff competition from casinos and online gambling platforms, supporters of reallocation argue that redirecting even a fraction of current funding could significantly bolster other vital services.

“At what point does an indefinite subsidy for a shrinking industry stop making sense?” Fisk posed. “Whether it’s fiscal prudence or ethical responsibility, Maine deserves better stewardship of its resources.”

So far, no formal legislation has been introduced to alter or eliminate the subsidies. But with growing public concern and mounting evidence of persistent underperformance, pressure may soon mount for action.

For now, the horses continue to race — funded, in part, by the pockets of taxpayers watching from the sidelines.