Sep. 16--Toledo's Raceway Park was one of just two horse-racing tracks in the state to meet yesterday's deadline for a $13 million installment for video slot machines, while all seven tracks submitted the necessary applications and separate $100,000 fee, according to the Ohio Lottery Commission.

Northfield Park outside Cleveland was the only other horse-racing track to make the first installment for the $65 million licensing fee.

Gov. Ted Strickland is aiming to generate $933 million over two years through a plan to have 2,500 slot machines installed at each race track next year, with some machines operational by May. Earlier this week, the governor said he supported raising the proposed minimum age for slot machine gambling to 21 from 18.

The Lottery Commission said tracks that did not make yesterday's deadline for the first licensing installment will be charged a $100,000 per-day late fee.

However, Lottery Director Kathleen Burke has the prerogative to "modify" late fees after an initial payment, the commission said.

Raceway Park's owner, Penn National Gaming, is also a primary backer of Issue 3 that will ask statewide voters Nov. 3 to approve a single casino each in Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.

If the issue passes, Penn has an agreement to buy a 44-acre site in Toledo along the Maumee River by the Rossford line to build a casino. Toledo then would have the potential of hosting a total of 7,500 slot machines -- 5,000 at the riverfront casino and 2,500 at Raceway Park.

Some opponents of Issue 3 have in recent weeks questioned whether Penn would be willing to pursue both possible slot machine venues in the same city. A company spokesman could not be immediately reached last night.

The state's slot machine plan is facing three separate lawsuits and potential injunctions which could complicate some racetracks' efforts to obtain financing for the license fees.

"There could be some reluctance on the part of lenders until the court rules on them," Jerry Chabler, a member of the Ohio State Racing Commission, said of the pending lawsuits.

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