I have to say, the best thing of the post Lindsey McPherson era at Patuxent-- as if there could be a best thing-- is the recent focus towards history in the Patuxent papers. I thoroughly enjoyed the recent article with 7 little know historic tidbits about Howard County. Now comes this article, about the late, lamented Laurel Speedway.
How different would life here have been had Laurel Speedway endured? Could the area have evolved into what the Dover Downs area is today, with a horse racing track and an auto racing track? And then, what would have become of the area? Laurel would certainly have become a larger city, especially with its unique location, straddling not one, two, threee, but FOUR Maryland counties. Perhaps it would've become an independent city, a true stop between Baltimore and Washington.
The sports fan in me is sad for all the sporting opportunities Laurel has lost. About 20 years ago, there was the very brief scheme to move the Washington Redskins to a new stadium which was to have been built in Laurel. Some reported that the team may even have been renamed the "Maryland Redskins", in an effort by then-Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke to lure the Baltimore market. Of course, these things didn't happen, the Browns moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens, and the rest is, as they say, history.
And, much more recently, and making me somewhat less sad, is the opportunity Laurel lost to become the home to the Maryland slots casino that now currently exists at Arundel Mills. Although, I think that if someone breathes the words "Caesar's Palace Maryland" into the Governor's ear, next thing you know, there'll be another special session and referendum to build yet another slots casino at or near Laurel Race Track. Gee, perhaps on the site of the race track parking lot that sits in Howard County! Wouldn't that be fun?
