Michigan Sad(Mad)ness.....

[MichiganDale]

Things are tough in this sport, its under fire far and wide and those in Ohio and Illinois know it very well.....Michigan too, the once proud sport we love is a train wreck and its about to get worse......

The tracks put in their applications for 2014 race dates and the latest ploy by Hazel Park is so shocking it needs to be shot down or just shut the place down all together.   They initially requested a mere 44 dates of racing in 2014.   That's bad enough as it is but get this - Hazel Park has amended its application to request 10 DAYS!   That's right, 10 DAYS OF RACING!   

Not sure what Northville asked for but each year its less than the year before and Sports Creek is currently in a whopping 27 Day Meet and is requesting less for next year.

Make a living in Harness Racing?   How?   

[beans and weenies]

Are those few days just so they can keep their foot in the door in case slots come to Michigan?  Really sucks.  I feel them.

[MichiganDale]

It's so the tracks can continue simulcasting, B&W.  There is a 1995 law that it appears is not bring adhered to.  The Gaming Control Board should hold the tracks accountable and not approve fewer dates than are required just so the tracks can continue to simulcast.  Slots in Michigan at the remaining tracks?  Can't happen under the Constitution and the amendment bought and paid for by the tribes and the 3 commercial casinos...  It takes both a Statewide AND local vote to add slots at racetracks.  Horsemen don't have the $millions to fight the battle that the casinos do.

[careless hal]

It's  a tough battle, hope you guys can hold on.

[beans and weenies]

Just isn't right to be able to keep simulcasting and not have live racing.  Damn politicians go which ever pays the most. regardless of the industry they are destroying.

[Just Saying]

Just isn't right to be able to keep simulcasting and not have live racing.  Damn politicians go which ever pays the most. regardless of the industry they are destroying.

Agree 100%. The original IL OTB law stated that you could only have OTB's if you hosted live racing. One at the host track and 2 satellites. Arlington Park owner, Dick Duchoussois, told horsemen face to face in the track kitchen that they needn't worry about losing live racing at Quad City Downs after he bought it because state law demanded live racing. He then set about getting politicians to amend the law so he could kill live racing, but still retain the 3 licenses that came with QCD. He succeeded and that was the end of racing at QCD.

He then had 6 OTB licenses (3 QCD and 3 Arlington) and zero competition from harness vs T-breds in his realm. The law is only as good as the latest bribe.

[MichiganDale]

Agree 100%. The original IL OTB law stated that you could only have OTB's if you hosted live racing. One at the host track and 2 satellites. Arlington Park owner, Dick Duchoussois, told horsemen face to face in the track kitchen that they needn't worry about losing live racing at Quad City Downs after he bought it because state law demanded live racing. He then set about getting politicians to amend the law so he could kill live racing, but still retain the 3 licenses that came with QCD. He succeeded and that was the end of racing at QCD.

He then had 6 OTB licenses (3 QCD and 3 Arlington) and zero competition from harness vs T-breds in his realm. The law is only as good as the latest bribe.

Money Talks - no doubt about it.   Here in Michigan its Tribal money, and believe me they have TONS of CASH to spend, along with their cronies in Detroit at the 3 commercial casino's.   Its amazing the clout the tribes have here and what they want, they get.
Horsemen are pretty much doomed but there are still those with 'hope' and hanging on thinking one day they'll wake up and all will be as it once was - sorry, not going to happen like that.