Delay of sale forces job cuts at Lone Star

Lone Star Park, whose sale from MI Developments to Global Gaming has been delayed, has laid off some employees since the close of its Quarter Horse meet in November. Dan Leary, the director of communications for Lone Star, and John Records, who oversaw operations at the track’s simulcast pavilion, were the highest-ranking positions laid off, confirmed Drew Shubeck, president of Lone Star.

The cuts were made because of the delay of the sale, in an effort to preserve cash, Shubeck said.

Global Gaming was up for licensing at the Texas Racing Commission meeting last month but withdrew its application and has indicated its intent to resubmit the request at a later date. Global, a subsidiary of Chickasaw Nation, owns Remington Park. It won the right to purchase the operating assets of Lone Star for $47 million in a bankruptcy auction in October 2009.

Lone Star will open its Thoroughbred meet in April. The track is simulcasting and operating as a training center. Horses will be able to stable at the track through Jan. 3. Lone Star will reopen its stable area in mid-March, Shubeck said.

* The annual Fasig-Tipton Texas December Mixed auction is set for Monday at Lone Star. It will begin at 12 noon. The sale features breeding stock, yearlings and horses of racing age.