Bangor race paddock ready for opening; new barns planned

The footprint of the old paddock and B barn will become new parking area for ship-in trailers. Track officials hope that the new parking will eliminate the need for horsemen to park on the access road from Buck Street to the grandstand area.

A new 100-horse barn will be built on the footprint of the old C and D barns, says Jon Johnson, general manager of Hollywood Slots, Hotel & Raceway. He hopes construction goes smoothly but makes no promises after major troubles with the track surface last spring.

“We have no idea what’s in the ground there," he said. "I mean, no one really knew what was in the ground underneath the track, did they?”

He hopes the new barn will be ready by the end of September — if all goes well.

The next phase will be the demolition of the F barn, to be replaced by a similar new barn. The Buck Street side of the new F barn will become green space, providing a pleasant view from Buck Street. Longer-term plans are to construct a small track maintenance building on the barn's Buck Street side, as well.

Once the new F barn is occupied, the E barn will come down, and its footprint will become space for parking, manure bins and bedding.

While the new paddock was wholly paid for by Penn National, Johnson says he is pleased that the city of Bangor has agreed pay half the cost of new construction of the new barn area.

Penn National had contended at a public hearing with the city that the lack of a proper maintenance and upkeep program during city ownership led to the barns’ current dilapidated state. (Maine Harness.com)

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