A November referendum by Maryland voters may be the biggest threat to Colonial Downs' immediate future.

Magna Entertainment Corp., which controls Maryland horse-racing tracks Laurel Park and Pimlico, announced Wednesday that it intends to put the maximum allowed 4,750 slot machines at Laurel.

Stan Bowker, executive secretary of the Virginia Racing Commission, said that with slots providing additional revenue for purse money, Laurel would resume year-round racing and offer purses much higher than Colonial Downs.

The two tracks overlap a great deal. They attract many of the same owners, riders, trainers and horses, and Colonial Downs typically operates when Laurel is closed.

Iain Woolnough, Colonial Downs' general manager, said he borrows some equipment, including a second starting gate and two tractors, from Laurel, and that operations personnel overlap. Colonial Downs elected to close its Thoroughbred meet on Wednesday because Laurel opened yesterday.

Until this year, trainers based in Maryland took advantage of a complimentary shuttle for their horses between the two tracks. Rising gas prices caused Colonial Downs to discontinue the service, which began when the Virginia and Maryland tracks shared management.

-- Andee Sears