BANGOR (AP) – The prospect of slot machines drawing new crowds to Bangor Raceway has created optimism among the people who work behind the scenes at the 111-year-old track, after years of financial struggle.

“It is going to be big. It is going to be wonderful,” said Joley-Ann DaFonte of Presque Isle, as she held the reins of a horse getting ready to race.

DaFonte and other owners said the Raceway’s mood has been different this summer.

“An entirely different attitude. I have heard no grumbling,” said Floyd Rounds, a horse owner from Embden.

But some at the track are on edge, as they imagine the ways slot machine revenues will change its character.

The track averaged 800 fans a day last year, eclipsing daily attendance at many of the country’s small harness tracks, according to the U.S. Trotting Association. But visitors bet just $723,000 last year and the track’ purses are among the country’s worst, averaging $1,874 per race last year.

This amount becomes even more meager because the purse is split among the first five horses in a race, half going to the winner and diminishing percentages to the following horses, down to 5 percent for fifth place. Revenue from the slots will change that, and in turn, save harness racing in Maine, industry officials said.

“It is still not a viable business without those slots,” Nichols said.

One percent of the $824.5 million expected to be wagered on the slots would supplement harness racing purses. Industry officials said that will draw more horses to Bangor to race and increase the number of race days.

Owner Michael Andrew, who said a single horse can cost an owner $12,000 annually, welcomed the chance to race for more cash and on more days. Without the prospect of a better-paying brand of racing, Andrew said he would sell his farm in Gorham village to developers.

But better purses will also attract better horses, Nichols noted.

He said the track will take steps to make sure Maine owners can reap the benefits of the bigger prizes.

He said the track would work to find ways for Mainers to compete until their horses catch up with those drawn from New York, Delaware and other elite spots. One prospect is sire stake races in which only horses bred in Maine are allowed to race.

AP-ES-07-11-04 1336EDT