SCARBOROUGH - The owner of Scarborough Downs, the harness race track that sought approval on Election Day to operate slot machines, wants a recount of the vote that turned down the proposal.

Edward MacColl, a lawyer for the track, said a request for a recount, signed by 100 voters, plus a check for $3,100 to cover the cost, was dropped off at Town Hall today.

The track wants to operate slot machines similar to Hollywood Slots, a racino connected to a harness track in Bangor. Scarborough Downs has said the town stands to make at least $8 million a year in higher property tax payments and a percentage of the wagering.

At least part of that money would go toward development of a new town center on a new road that would link Route 1 and Payne Road.

The slot machine proposal failed, according to the town's official tally, by 5,804 to 5,565, or 51 percent to 49 percent.

Even a if recount shows that the proposal passed, the state would still need to approve the track's bid to operate slot machines and there could be a second local referendum before final approval would be granted.

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