Portland Meadows: Lights On -- Bankruptcy Court Judge Returns Track To Previous Owners

PORTLAND - Donna and John Jensen regained control of the Portland Meadows racetrack yesterday, and Donna Jensen said her first action would be to return utility service to the track's stables.

Oregon Racing Inc., which relinquished ownership of the track to the Jensens as part of its reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code, turned off utilities to backside stables and to the Portland Meadows Golf Course Tuesday.

Owners of the nearly 100 horses stabled there hauled in food and water before the gates were locked Tuesday night.

"I had the vision of me out there carrying water to the horses," said Judge Donal D. Sullivan, who signed the transfer agreement in a brief hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Horse owners had stayed at the backside without paying rent after negotiations with Oregon Racing collapsed. Donna Jensen said she would allow the horses to stay while rent was negotiated.

In return for taking over operation rights to the track, the Jensens agreed to pay about $600,000 owed to former concessionaire Service America, Inc., and drop any further claims against Oregon Racing.

Donna Jensen's father, William Wineberg, owned the track from 1962 until Jensen Racing bought it in 1983.

But the long legal ordeal isn't over. Oregon Racing's other creditors - a list that is several hundred long - have 20 days to approve the agreement. If anyone disputes it, the track reverts to Oregon Racing, said Robert Lowe, attorney for the Miami-based company.

Oregon Racing bought the track from the Jensens in 1989 and ran two seasonal meets amid growing confrontations with the racing community. The company filed for protection from creditors in January.

Donna Jensen said she still planned to sell the track's operation rights.

"There's nothing firm yet, but there's lots of discussion," she said.

The Portland Meadows race meet traditionally runs from October to late April.

Moonlite Margarita wins -- RENTON - Moonlite Margarita took the early lead and never faltered en route to a narrow victory over Ms. Crunch in yesterday's featured KJR Purse for three-year-old fillies at Longacres Park.

Moonlite Margarita, ridden by Frank Best and trained by Dan Ragen, covered six furlongs in 1:11 3/5 as the second favorite in the field of five. Ms. Crunch, with Frank Gonsalves up, fell three-quarters of a length short at the wire. Santiam Dancer, with jockey Bruno Maelfeyt, closed well to finish third.

The victory was the first in five career starts for Moonlite Margarita and the $6,435 winner's share more than doubled her career earnings to $12,750 for owner Heather Dedomenico of Monroe.

Icy Palace, the 9-to-5 favorite, finished last.

Kent Green sidelined -- RENTON - Eight-year-old Kent Green will miss tomorrow's $30,000-added Space Needle Handicap at Longacres Park because of a minor foot injury, trainer Mike McCann said. The state's No. 11 all-time money-winner with earnings of $367,768, Kent Green has appeared in 73 straight stakes races - every one for which he's been eligible - dating back to 1986.

Notes

-- Jockey Luis Jauregui rode three winners and apprentice Brian Eide won two races yesterday. Apprentice Vann Belvoir had one win and has yet to be shut out in six days of riding after returning from a four-month absence due to a broken leg. -- Northern Navigator, a.k.a the People's Horse, is entered in tomorrow's ninth race sub-feature, a one-mile allowance test for three-year-olds. All honorary owners of Northern Navigator - the 5,344 people registered May 18 - will receive free admission to tomorrow's races with their honorary owner cards. All dads will also receive free admission on Father's Day. -- Yesterday's 6-2-1 daily triple of Jaheras ($102.40), Mac B. Nimble ($15.60) and Put Em Up ($12.00) returned $7,490.80 for a $2 wager.