Proposed horse racetrack places latest bet on Leominster

Posted by author March 5, 2025 Horse Racing

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LEOMINSTER — While proponents boast that it’s a way for the City of Leominster to “Win Big on Fun,” a proposed racetrack for horses has already caused its share of controversy, opposition and concerns in the community, despite still being in the planning stage,

Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella is urging that Leominster residents take a breather and relax because the formal proposal for the track, tentatively called The Fairgrounds, hasn’t even come out of the starting gate yet and a long way from the home stretch.

“It’s very early,” Mazzarella said. “They’re looking to do racing two weekends a year.”

Billed as “a one-of-a-kind entertainment venue featuring horse racing, festivals, a sports bar and more,” Baystate Racing LLC and Whitney Companies seek to partner with the City of Leominster to transform its capped landfill at the end of Mechanic Street to the east of the Route 2 connector into a “vibrant entertainment destination,” according to www.thefairgroundsleominster.com

While an informational meeting took place for neighbors and abutters on Feb. 16, Mazzarella stresses that the proposal is in the preliminary, conceptual stage and no formal proposal has been filed yet, nor has a date been set for discussion, with City Hall.

“Our job right now as elected officials is trying to get information and get it out there to people,” Mazzarella said. “There will also be a peer review process where whatever their project is — whether it’s traffic, environment, care of horses — we have our consultants review the whole thing.”

In collaboration with Baystate Racing, The Whitney Companies, a Leominster-based development firm, proposes a project where the goal is “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,” according to the partnership’s website.

If approved, Baystate plans to develop the site with a racetrack, parking lots, a paddock, stables and a pavilion to support the venue’s operations.

One of the existing buildings will be repurposed into a sports bar with mobile wagering and sports game simulators for gambling, as well as a viewing deck and a full-service restaurant.

“When they do this whole casino-online gaming stuff, it’s all attached to racing,” Mazzarella said. “The city gets so much. The state gets so much. And the breeders get so much.”

This is not the first time a thoroughbred horse-racing facility has been proposed in the north county.

Last year, Baystate proposed to convert the GAAMHA property at 827 Green St., Gardner, into a year-round equestrian facility. This was Baystate’s second failed attempt to bring horse racing to Gardner.

According to the latest proposal, Leominster will have financial, regulatory and operational oversight as outlined in the Host Community Agreement with Baystate.

The city will receive a minimum of $300,000 to $1 million once operational with an annual increase of 2.5% after the third year, with additional payments from gaming revenues and taxes.

Leominster will control permitting, race scheduling and land use, requiring Baystate to comply with zoning laws and obtain approvals for leasing city property according to the preliminary proposal.

According to the website, The Fairgrounds venue would be “an ideal fit” for Leominster. If accepted, it will transform the capped landfill on Mechanic Street into a “vibrant entertainment space” that aligns with the city’s goals of land revitalization, economic growth and community enrichment.

“They’re proposing to take a mostly vacant 34,000-square-foot office building and the old, capped landfill and do everything right there,” Mazzarella said. “So they would do two weeks a year on the racing and then the online gaming and restaurants would go in this mostly vacant property.”

The project will be developed in accordance with environmental standards and laws. The landfill cap will remain intact, as no construction will take place on that section of the site, according to the website.

The city will regulate traffic, access and safety measures while ensuring the track is available for community use when not in operation.

A city-appointed representative will serve on the Racing Oversight Board to ensure horse welfare, and Baystate must provide annual compliance reports.

Baystate must also host at least one free community event per year and support local education programs.

“Sometimes misinformation takes over. So whether people agree or not, we’re trying to get them the information. Mazzarella said. “My opinion is get the proper information out there.”