Michigan’s only remaining horseracing track, Northville Downs in the Detroit suburbs, is set to close in 2021. It was purchased by Hunter Pasteur Homes in 2018. The track is supposed to relocate but plans have not been finalized yet. In 2017 horseracing generated $3.5 million in tax revenue for Michigan from simulcast wagers, racing fees and licenses, compared to more than $6 million in 2007.
Michigan’s horseracing industry began its decline in 2004 when Proposal 1 passed, limiting slot machines to casinos. Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association Treasurer Crystal Terrell said, “The big mess started when we had the Detroit casinos come into play. Before Greektown, MGM and Motor City got up and going, they had to go to a vote. The city had to approve casinos going into the city of Detroit. This process of approval might have made them feel like it was an unfair process, so they wanted to push a proposal for anyone else trying to establish gaming at their facilities.”
The proposal exempted the Detroit casinos and the tribal casinos. “It basically said if I’m not a Detroit casino or tribal casino, and I want to have an additional form of gaming at my facility, particularly racetracks, it would have to go to a statewide vote,” Terrell said.
Another setback occurred in 2008 when Michigan eliminated the Office of the Racing Commissioner to save money, rolling it into the Michigan Gaming Control Board. In addition, animal welfare awareness has grown, raising concerns—frequently unfounded–about the sport’s safety, Terrell said.
