© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

As Hardwick, Massachusetts, prepares to vote on racetrack, some residents work to defeat it

A sign in Hardwick, Massachusetts, expressing opposition to a proposed racetrack.
Robert Page
/
Submitted photo
A sign in Hardwick, Massachusetts, expressing opposition to a proposed racetrack.

Residents of Hardwick, Massachusetts, will vote on Saturday on whether they want a new horse racing track in town.

Hardwick is a town of less than 3,000 people, about 20 miles west of Worcester. A developer and a horse breeder want to build a racetrack there.

Some residents are opposed to the project, saying the town is ill prepared to handle the thousands of visitors expected on weekends.

Robert Page is part of a group fighting for a no vote on Jan. 7.

"Our group has assigned every street in Hardwick," he said. "We have 75 to 100 people that are going to go out and knock on doors and help people understand because a lot of people don't know the correct information."

Page said among the things people may not know is that Commonwealth Racing, the organization trying to build the track, also wants to offer sports betting in town, which could bring even more people into Hardwick.

Commonwealth Racing could not be reached for comment.

If the town votes yes on the race track, Massachusetts gambling regulators would still need to sign off on the project.

Before joining New England Public Media, Alden was a producer for the CBS NEWS program 60 Minutes. In that role, he covered topics ranging from art, music and medicine to business, education and politics.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Related Content