A federal judge delivered bad news Wednesday to proponents of a sports betting parlor on the former Garden State Park racetrack in Cherry Hill.

U.S. District Judge Renee Bumb said she is likely to uphold a restrictive covenant against gambling activities at the former racetrack, which would impede a developer seeking to open a betting facility there. But she refused to grant a request for a preliminary injunction barring operation of a sports wagering site on the Cherry Hill property, finding no irreparable harm is likely to result before she issues a final decision in the case.