HURON TOWNSHIP, MI-Jerry Campbell, chairman of Citizens RepublicBancorp and a thoroughbred horse stable owner, has submitted aformal proposal to the Michigan Office of the Racing Commission tobuild a $142-million racing track on 240 acres here, just south ofInterstate 275 and Eureka Road, near Detroit Metro Airport.Campbell, a member of the Magna Entertainment board of directors,wants to take the license that had been planned for Magna until itdropped its $325-million racetrack plans in Romulus in August.

The plan for Pinnacle Race Course includes the track, 200,000 sfof retail (made up of restaurants, shopping venues andentertainment), a large family picnic area and capacity for 10,000spectators. Campbell expects the track will employ more than 3,100people, he says in a press release. The township Board of Trusteesand the Michigan Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Associationsupport the new track, as does Wayne County chairman RobertFicano.

In the release, Campbell said the track could be open bySeptember 2008. It would be the only thoroughbred track left inMichigan if approved, as the Magna-owned Great Lakes Downs inMuskegon, formerly owned by Campbell, is closing Nov. 6, 2007. “Itwill be a devastating blow to the state's agricultural businesswhen Great Lakes Downs closes,” Campbell says in the release.