Residents on Saturday said no to siting a thoroughbred horse racing and gambling facility proposed at the nearly 400 acre Great Meadowbrook Farm, when 57% of registered voters cast ballots. The unofficial referendum tally was 312 in favor and 830 against, Town Clerk Ryan Witkos said.
“We’re disappointed,” project proponent John Stefanini said in an interview.
A Framingham attorney and former state representative, Stefanini chairs the five-person Racing Oversight Board that also had applied to the state Gaming Commission for a license to operate a horse racing facility at the farm. This was contingent on municipal voters approving it first.
He said a decision would be made by Feb. 24 on whether to resubmit plans and try again, either in Hardwick or potentially in another municipality, or abandon the idea.
