Horse Racing News - 2007/2008
March 20, 2008
The Office of Racing Commissioner granted approval to develop a
thoroughbred race track in Wayne County this past Wednesday. The
Michigan Racing Commissioner issued a license to Post-It Stables
Inc. of Jackson, MI to control and operate the Pinnacle Race Course.
The license that
Post-It Stables Inc. will receive is one of only three available
horse racing licenses for the Metro Detroit area, according to the
Horse Racing Law of 1995, and will be the state’s only racetrack
having thoroughbred racing. The other two tracks in Metro Detroit
are located in Hazel Park and Northville and have harness horse
racing.
December 13, 2007
Jerry Campbell and
his wife Felicia, the President of Post It Stables, Inc. announced
that construction will begin on the Pinnacle Race Course in March of
next year and the expect the track to be completed in time for
racing to commence on July 18th. The grandstand will not yet be
constructed, so the developers plan to bring in temporary seating
for the first season of racing.
November 1, 2007
On, October 31st,
Racing Commissioner Christine C. White signed orders authorizing the
2008 live and simulcast horse racing calendar for Michigan’s four
pari-mutuel harness race tracks, and for Michigan’s only mixed breed
track.
The 2008 live harness
race schedule calls for a total of 286 days of standardbred horse
racing at the four locations and involves five corporations.
Northville Downs-
Total of 53 days from January 4 to April 5
Sports Creek Raceway-
Total of 69 days from January 4 to May 4 and November 28 to December
31
Hazel Park Raceway-
Total of 92 days from April 18 to September 27
Jackson Harness
Raceway – Total of 31 days from May 9 to July 19
Northville Racing
Corporation- Total of 41 days from October 3 to December 14
November 1, 2007
On October 31st,
Racing Commissioner Christine C. White announced that she has
approved the 2008 race date application submitted by Jerry Campbell
and Post It Stables, Inc. for thoroughbred racing in Wayne County.
The order is signed with a contingency clause that the track
application progresses through due process and is approved
October 25, 2007
On Monday, October
22, 2007 the Office of Racing Commissioner announced that it had
received a letter from a representative of Winfield Cooper III
withdrawing his application for thoroughbred race dates at Great
Lakes Downs for the 2008 calendar year. Mr. Cooper has filed an
application for race dates that was conditioned upon his being able
to reach an agreement to conduct the races at Great Lakes Downs.
Magna Entertainment Corporation announced earlier this year that it
was going to cease racing at Great Lakes Downs, and that it was
seeking a buyer for the facility.
October 11, 2007
Post It Stables, a
Jackson Michigan company, announced the details of its plan for a
new track in the Detroit Metropolitan area, the promised “Pinnacle
Race Course” to be located near Detroit Metro Airport. The company
proposing the new course is led by Jerry Campbell, a successful
Michigan banker and long-time thoroughbred horse owner.
The proposed track
will include 200,000 square feet of retail space, a large family
picnic area and 20 luxury boxes. If a track license is granted
quickly, and race dates are approved, Pinnacle Race Course could
open in September 2008.
September 6, 2007
The Office of Racing
Commissioner (“ORC”) reported that it received applications from all
four existing harness tracks, and Mt. Pleasant Meadows last week.
Additionally, the Racing Commissioner received applications for
thoroughbred race dates from two companies, and received two
additional “letters of interest” expressing an interest in
conducting thoroughbred racing.
Friday, August 31,
2007 was the deadline for the submission of 2008 race date
applications under state law. The racing commissioner has set a
hearing on the race date applications for October 8th, and is
expected to announce the final approved race dates on October 31st.
The ORC is in the process of reviewing the applications.
August 21, 2007
The Michigan
House of Representatives' Committee on Regulatory Reform held a
hearing on the topic of "racinos". The hearing was called in
anticipation that a bill would be introduced dealing with the topic.
Although the Committee did not have legislation to consider, the
hearing went forward and the committee took testimony from various
representatives of Michigan's horse racing industry, who suggested
to panel members that Michigan's horse tracks need the additional
gaming options to stay competitive.
August 15, 2007
Last week, Magna
Entertainment Corp. announced that it has relinquished its
thoroughbred race track license for Michigan Downs, a proposed $100
million racetrack complex near Detroit Metropolitan Airport in
Romulus, Michigan. Ontario, Canada-based Magna Entertainment had
been granted its thoroughbred racetrack license by Michigan's Office
of Racing Commissioner in 2005.
August 8, 2007
The Meadows
Racetrack and Casino in Meadowlands, Pennsylvania, unveiled plans
for its new permanent slot machine casino and grandstand. The
Meadowlands Racetrack and Casino, billed as the first casino to open
in the Greater Pittsburgh area, has been operating in an 82,000
square foot temporary casino with 1,738 slot machines since June,
2007.
June 6, 2007
To honor Michigan's
74 years of horse racing, Governor Jennifer Granholm has declared
June as "Michigan Horse Racing Month." In a press release issued by
the Office of Racing Commissioner (ORC), Racing Commissioner
Christine White commented on the importance of recognizing the
industry. "Horse racing is a Michigan tradition that makes an
important contribution to our state's economy," said White. "It's a
very labor intensive business, requiring hard work and dedication
from the breeders, stable workers, grooms, trainers, drivers and
jockeys. Michigan Horse Racing Month is a great way to show
appreciation for the tireless efforts of everyone involved in the
Industry."
May 8, 2007
Michigan’s Office of
Racing Commissioner (ORC) released its 2006 Annual Report. According
to the report, Michigan’s race tracks showed a combined 1,909 days
of live and simulcast pari-mutuel racing in 2006. More than 1.1
million fans came to the tracks last year and wagered $281.2 million
in revenue, generating more than $9 million in state tax revenue.
