The Leominster planning board will make a recommendation to the city council next week on whether they should accept a petition demanding a ban on horse racing in the city.
The board has been holding public hearings on a petition from resident Lisa Nugent, which calls for the prohibition of horse and dog racing, as well as any associated betting and wagering on the sport, within the city.
They will make a recommendation about the petition at their next meeting on June 16, as outlined in its agenda.
The petition comes as residents have spoken out against a proposed horse race track called “The Fairgrounds” at the end of Mechanic Street to the east of the Route 2 connector.
The proposal for the racetrack comes from Baystate Racing, LCC and Whitney Companies. It aims to turn a Leominster landfill at the Route 2 connector into a complex featuring a sports bar, a community event space, a full viewing deck with a restaurant, parking lots, stables, a paddock and a venue for sports game simulators, which would be for gambling.
“Baystate Racing, LLC and Whitney Companies seek to partner with Leominster, MA to transform the Leominster landfill into a vibrant entertainment destination,” the Fairgrounds’s website reads. “This revitalization project aims to energize the community, drive economic growth, and create enriching experiences for all, turning an underutilized space into a hub of excitement, fun and opportunity.”
In addition to making a recommendation on the horse racing ban petition, the board will also make a recommendation about a proposed zoning overlay that would allow horse racing in the area.
A lawyer who submitted the petition did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Those who have publicly spoken out against “The Fairgrounds” say horse and dog racing is animal cruelty.
Another petition by Nuget, posted online at change.org, is titled “Stop Bay State Racing LLC Racetrack from Horse Racing and Off-Track Betting in Leominster.” As of Monday, the petition had more than 1,700 signatures.
The petition reads that there are concerns about tampering with the Leominster landfill that might lead to “catastrophic issues that would affect neighbors, local wildlife and contaminate water supplies.”
The petition also reads there is concern that a horse racetrack would contribute to more gambling problems.
“Not everyone will feel that it is crucial to keep Bay State LLC out of Leominster,” the petition reads. “Some will be more focused on any potential money, or jobs they will be promising to bring. But at what cost? Shouldn’t the focus be keeping Leominster safe and thriving as the family-centric community we know and love?”
A spokesperson previously told MassLive that if the proposal is approved, the responsibility for maintaining the landfill would shift to the developer from the city, taking away the “financial burden” on residents. They added that the horse race track would be beneficial for Massachusetts’s farming community.
“Horse racing plays a vital role in sustaining the farming economy by generating demand for agricultural goods and securing jobs,” the spokesperson said.
