WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 1955

SENATE BILL No. 310

AN ACT to add a new section to Article 78B of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1947 Supplement), title. "Racing Com-
mission", said new section to be known as Section 7A and to
follow immediately after Section 7 of said Article 78B, pro-
viding for additional racing days to the Maryland State Fair
and Southern Maryland Agricultural Association.

SENATE BILL No. 388

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 17
of Article 78B of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1947
Supplement), title "Racing Commission", relating to trotting
and pacing races, so as to provide a minimum number of
racing days at each track, to authorize the transfer of the
place of holding race meetings, and to designate certain
licenses and the location of their tracks.

These three measures, considered in combination, would
effect a net increase of thirty days in allowable racing dates
in Maryland, raising the total to two hundred and eighty
authorized days.

Under Senate Bill No. 310, twenty additional days would be
granted to mile tracks, raising the total, to a hundred and
twenty days for this category of racing, and the legislation
makes it mandatory that the Commission grant ten additional
days each to the Laurel and Bowie tracks.

Senate Bill No. 388 would have the effect of limiting the
number of harness race tracks to four by providing for the
allowance of an additional five days of racing, or twenty-five
days to each track licensed in apportioning the one hundred
authorized days of this type of racing. Its immediate effect
would be an increase of fifteen days of operation for the three
tracks presently licensed.

Senate Bill No. 256 would increase by ten days the racing
at half-mile tracks by allowing each of the five licensed an
additional two days, or a total of twelve, each year.

These measures must be considered together for their effect
on the overall racing picture in the State in its relation to the
revenues derived therefrom by the State.

In its final form, Senate Bill No. 310 is the outgrowth of the
proposal that the Pimlico track be authorized to consolidate
with the Laurel track and, on the basis of fifty days operation
a year at the latter site, the construction of a modern racing
plant at the Laurel location.

The proposal was made on the ground that such a modern
plant, if constructed, and located mid-way between the metro-
politan centers of Baltimore and Washington, would guar-