Real Estate & Property Law

Preakness facing Eminent Domain

By Alan Ackerman

Southern Maryland

Gov. Martin O'Malley proposed legislation Wednesday aimed at increasing the state's power to keep the Preakness Stakes in Maryland, despite potential legal challenges stemming from the race owner's recent bankruptcy filing.

The bill, which has the support of legislative leaders, gives Maryland the authority to acquire the Preakness and the two major horse racing tracks in the state through purchase or eminent domain as a last resort. Canada-based Magna Entertainment Corp, which owns the Preakness, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, filed for federal bankruptcy protection in early March.

Eminent domain is the legal and compensated taking of private property by the government for a public use.

The bill also authorizes the Maryland Economic Development Corporation to issue bonds to purchase the rights to the Preakness and the racetracks.

Existing Maryland law gives the state first right of refusal if the Preakness is sold, but Magna's bankruptcy filings have clouded the issue of whether the provision would still be recognized in court.

In late March the state filed motions with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, where Magna has filed for Chapter 11 protection, to affirm its legal right to purchase the Preakness. Attorneys for the state remain hopeful that the federal judge will recognize its right of first refusal.

But Austin Schlick, the chief of litigation in the attorney general's office, said the state has also been working with Magna's attorneys and that he is "optimistic" the two parties can reach an agreement recognizing the state's right to hold on to the Preakness.

In light of the potential legal hang-ups, O'Malley said the bill gives the state the "maximum amount of flexibility in order to protect the state's best interests under any scenario."

Schlick said the state is wise to push the legislation at this time. Maryland does not understand what it is getting into when it attempts to acquire the horse track. The bankruptcy adds a layer of issues. Good luck. After all, the highest and best use may be a use other than as a race track!

The State is on the one hand omnipresent, but on the other, it is limited by its own constitutional delegations and limitations. Maryland could be in a position which it pays far more than it thought would be required.

Surely, the take will need to be a 'slow take' or the State runs the risk of raiding its own treasury out of pride.  

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on April 09, 2009 (boomark / email).