A Candid Interview with John Stefanini of BayState Racing LLC
We go round the track with John Stefanini on July 15, 2024 and cover all the bases regarding the proposed facility at 827 Green Street, Gardner. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY.
Sometimes through ridiculous analogies we reveal just how hyperbolic and misleading some opposition statements have been about this proposed project. We thank John Stefanini for being a good sport as we asked him some silly questions along the way. But, the result was that we cut through the clutter regarding the environmental concerns, speak of animal safety, and get real on traffic and other issues. It’s a good interview to help you assess what your actual, valid concerns are and what items are non-issues or have already been addressed. The Gardner City Council will hear a presentation from BayState Racing LLC on July 23, 2024 and hold a public hearing the same evening.
| Some key takeaway quotes from this interview: |
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| We would instantly be the largest taxpayer in Gardner, paying $500,000 approximately a year. The next closest taxpayer pays $173,000. And to put that in perspective, the site, if it were to pay taxes today because it’s by a not-for-profit, would pay $15,000. |
| Whether you think we’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do, which I hope you do, or whether we’re required to do it, it matters not. We are going to do what we say we’re going to do. |
| We will improve the manure management on this site because we will collect the manure, we will store it properly, and then we will truck it off of and dispose of it off-site. We will be required to do that. |
| We have some of the best engineers in the state who’ve done large and small projects for the state and municipalities, and we will have a system designed that directs and improves the storm water management on this site |
| Massachusetts horse owners and horse breeders have been leaders in the nation for decades in terms of care and treatment of animals. Massachusetts was among the first to have anti-slaughter, anti-doping regulations, which Congress has now adopted in something called the Horse Integrity Security Authority, HISA, which we will have to follow their strict adherence to. |
| You can expect one, two, three weekends a year, but never more than 20 days a year. We don’t think we have the purse money or the horses to do more than one or two weekends a year, and that’s what we’ve said. And we’ll work with the community on a traffic plan. |
| The wagering on this site will happen one, two, three weekends a year and we will have all kinds of safeguards put in because the gaming commission will require us to do that. In addition to that, we will be required to fund local addiction and other prevention related measures. We’ll do self-exclusion lists on the site. We’ll monitor if there’s a problem or someone has an issue. We’re aware of the concerns just like a tavern that sells alcohol. You need to be a responsible server and you need to understand the rules and you need to be trained. |
| We also know we know how to care for horses. Our owners, our 350 horse farms from around the Commonwealth love their horses, just as you love your pet. |
| We’re going to renovate one or both of the barns. Maybe, I don’t know if there’s a need for that addition or not, we’re going to renovate and improve the houses there, we’re going to build a pad for food trucks and other temporary facilities, we’re going to build a gazebo. So the only new structure we’re really talking about building is a gazebo and we’re talking about constructing a track, which is a one mile strip that’s 70 feet wide. So that would go through the woods around that hill that’s there and we would construct into the hill, we would terrace it, which takes advantage of the natural topography |
| You don’t need to take my word for any of these things. We need to go before the Conservation Commission and work through the rules and regulations which are considerable for the site, with our engineers, for the waste water management and storm water management of this site and that will take six to nine months to go through a process to figure that out and all those meetings will be in the public and all those meetings will follow rules and regulations. In addition to that, we will go to the planning board with a full traffic study and we’ve agreed to pay for whatever peer review they need to review those traffic studies |
| Website: BayStateRacingLLC.com Questions? Call (978) 277-3382 |