As director of racing at Laurel and Pimlico, Georganne Hale was pushing to keep Maryland racing competitive in a harsh economic climate. 

Hale was the first, and at the time, only woman to serve as racing secretary at a major race track in North America, taking the position in 2000 after being first hired at Timonium in 1986. “It was a big deal, but I had to work at it,” said Hale. “I wanted to do a good job, but it was a lot of stress. Not until a few years ago did I realize I didn’t need to be nervous.” 

Groundbreaking for Philadelphia Park’s stand-alone casino took place March 18 in the area previously used for the track’s front parking lot. State and local officials, along with representatives of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, wielded silver shovels to launch Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment’s $350 million facility that the company was required to build in order to retain its slots license. The new casino, which would house 4,000 slot machines, was scheduled to be completed by late 2009. 

 

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