Horse racing: Horsemen won't give up dates without a fight

A couple of rarely invoked laws could be at work slowing the process of Magna Entertainment's sudden attempts to avert big financial losses by making drastic changes at its two Maryland racetracks, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course.

The overall results probably will be just as disastrous, primarily because Magna's investment here is vulnerable to competition from tracks in neighboring states unless slot machines or some other savior emerges. But things are not likely to go at ruinous speed. At issue are disagreements that become extremely important in terms of housekeeping by people who love the game.

There are no real...