‘Northville closure latest challenge for Michigan horse racing’- MHHA President
Jan. 26, 2024 PLYMOUTH VOICE.
Plymouth Michigan News
Special meeting scheduled for township planning commission to review Northville Downs’ unfinished business
According to a recent post by PlayMichigan.com, the president of the association representing Michigan horse people told the media outlet the closure of the state’s last remaining pari-mutuel horse racing track “Is not a good thing by any stretch.”
Tom Barrett, president of the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association recently told PlayMichigan that he is hopeful a new track can still be built despite Plymouth Township Board of Trustees voting unanimously last Tuesday to rescind a motion authorizing a new track to be constructed on a 128-acre parcel of land…
“The guys that are still in Michigan are a resilient bunch,” Barrett was quoted. “We will still have our fairly-lucrative summer program with our colt stakes program. It will be at the various fair tracks around the state and most of the horsemen that are still here participate in that. But not having pari-mutuel racing for a good chunk of the year is certainly not a good thing.”
“And money appears to be at the root of the problem of a new track being built,” Barrett said. Tuesday’s vote to deny the new track concerned Northville Downs ownership balking at Plymouth requiring $50,000 per year for 10 years to be provided to the township via a community benefit agreement.
Northville Downs is on the agenda on Monday (Jan. 29) for a special meeting of Plymouth’s planning commission.
Plymouth Voice.
