Delaware's Rickman dies

William Rickman Sr., the Delaware real estate developer who resurrected racing at Delaware Park in the 1980's, died Sept. 30 at a hospital in Rockville, Md., after struggling with emphysema. Rickman was 84.

Rickman, the founder of W. M. Rickman Construction Company, purchased Delaware Park in partnership with William Christmas in 1983, more than a year after the track had closed after failing to turn profits. The pair reopened the track in 1984, and in 1985 Rickman bought out Christmas to take full control.

The track continued to struggle financially though the late 1980's and early 1990's, but Rickman, a horse owner and breeder, kept the doors open.

Rickman's gamble on Delaware Park eventually paid off in spades when, in 1995, the track became one of the first parimutuel facilities in the U.S. that was allowed to operate slot machines. Although Rickman had turned over day-to-day operations of the track to his son, William Rickman Jr., in 1993, the family retained ownership of the track and Rickman Sr. stayed on as chairman.