Vandals strike anew at Cowtown Race Track

Marianas Racing Association’s container office has been vandalized by unknown individuals recently. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Tearing up of the more mischievous and reprehensible kind occurred at the Cowtown Raceway Track recently when unknown individuals vandalized Marianas Racing Association’s container office.

MRA president Charles Cepeda said the estimated damage to the facility was $1,000.

“The MRA container office was vandalized. Nothing was inside but someone damaged the windows and walls. Nothing was stolen as it was empty. The estimated damage is $1,000 and we think it happened last Jan. 17,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Cepeda said they didn’t bother to report the incident to the Department of Public Safety and, so far, no one has come forward to report the dastardly act.

The vandalism occurred most probably last Jan. 17, according to MRA president Charles Cepeda. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“No witness… We do have cameras in the area, but it did not capture anything… No one has come forward with any information,” he said.

MRA vice president Justis “Cuki” Alvarez said it was truly disappointing that sinister members of the community have nothing better to do than damage someone else’s property for no apparent reason.

“It’s just another sad case of vandals doing what vandals do. We purchased the container house for officials to converge during races if necessary to discuss matters during the races. Also of course to have a little shade for the scorekeepers  to tally scores later in the day after the race.” 

Damage to the facility is estimated at $1,000. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Alvarez said MRA is also perplexed that someone would break into the container office when clearly there was nothing inside. 

“The container was empty. There was nothing inside and the vandals should have known that because there are windows that you can easily see into and know if anything was there. But there was nothing to take. So the vandals just decided to break the structure and damage it for virtually no reason,” he said.

Alvarez added that MRA is sad and upset that these things continue to happen, “but whoever is doing it obviously isn’t worried since Cowtown is in such a remote area and there are no security guards.”

He also echoed what Cepeda said that MRA’s motion cameras failed to record anything, which may necessitate a change in equipment. 

“We set up a motion camera at the entrance gate. But it didn’t catch anything and there are so many other ways to enter from. We hope to invest in more cameras in the future and hopefully catch whoever is doing it.”

It’s not the first time that vandals struck at the home of Saipan’s motocross enthusiasts as in December 2021 perpetrators broke into the track and damaged and destroyed the facility’s solar lights.