Chicago-Based Devine Racing Buys Marathon Of the Palm Beaches

The Marathon of the Palm Beaches has been sold to Chicago-based Devine Racing, which is "reorganizing after experiencing financial problems with marathons it conducted" in L.A. and Las Vegas, according to Hal Habib of the PALM BEACH POST. Devine Racing President Chris Devine yesterday said that his company is "'very, very healthy' today and committed to helping grow the Marathon of the Palm Beaches, which celebrated its fifth annual running in December." Devine said that among changes "being explored ... are a marketing push to expand the size of the race fields, changes in the course to avoid duplication, additional entertainment and a noncompetitive bike ride." Habib notes San Diego-based Elite Racing "had been negotiating for the Palm Beach event, but a stumbling block was Elite's desire to move the race to March, when hotel rates are higher and availability is lower." Meanwhile, Chris Devine "arrives with a controversial track record." But Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches President Dennis Grady said that he "knew of Devine's past." Grady: "We're comfortable. We talked at length with them about these issues. There are always two sides to anything" (PALM BEACH POST, 2/25).