New Tracks Not Needed, Says Racing Expert

However, in 2002, three companies have proposed new betting facilities.These include plans for Danou Enterprise's Triple Creek Downs, a $200million track and 500,000-sf convention center in Van Buren Township, atrack proposed by the Eqtah Group of Toronto for land in Lansing and a trackin Romulus, to be built by Magna Entertainment Corp.

The state's racing commission is evaluating the proposals.

The developers could not be reached for comment, but Joe Garcia, generalcounsel for the Lansing-based Michigan Racing Association, said his group isskeptical of the proposals."There's no reason to build more tracks, in light of the current trackeconomic situation," Garcia told GlobeSt.com.

Revenues are down for all seven of the horse racetracks in the state, andeven throughout the country, Garcia said."Numbers are low everywhere, including Churchill, everywhere," he said.Seven racetracks is plenty, the state is well-populated with tracks, and nomore building should occur, Garcia said.

The most recent activity included Livonia's Ladbroke Detroit Racing Centertrack, which was closed five years ago to become a retail center.The thoroughbred horses there were transferred to a closed track inMuskegon, which then opened with those horses, Garcia said.

The business is depressed in Michigan mostly because of the influx of newcasinos, according to Garcia."There are so many casinos, it's too much competition for gambling," he said.

There are four casinos in the Detroit area alone, with another casinoproposed for the Downriver area through a deal reached in December withformer Gov. John Engler.He said his group has advocated allowing slot machines in racetracks. Infact, allowing slots my be encouraging the new racetrack proposals, Garciasaid. "We've been advocating allowing slots for a long time," he said.