from the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association

Okemos, MI — The Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association reached agreement with Northville Downs Friday on a non-exclusive contract securing harness racing at the facility through 2019.

Several months of sometimes frustrating negotiations finally reached fruition just prior to the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s approaching 2015 race meet license application deadline. The deal calls for 16 additional days of racing in 2014, plus application for a minimum of 30 days and up to 60 race dates in 2015 and beyond depending on the outcome of negotiations with the other tracks.

Additional racing this year, as well as the possible schedule for racing those 16 days, is contingent on MGCB approval. Northville Downs was issued a license to race Thoroughbreds in 2014, so switching those dates to Standardbreds requires regulatory approval. If the change is approved, the MHHA has agreed to withdraw its case currently pending against MGCB in the Michigan Court of Claims challenging the process through which the Thoroughbred dates were originally issued.

The Northville contract also calls for the MHHA and its horsemen to help offset the cost of live racing through a combination of starting fees and commission surrender. While sharing in live racing costs with our track operators is a bitter pill for Michigan’s horsemen, it was, as MHHA President Tom Barrett put it, “necessary to get our horsemen back racing and try to move the industry forward.” The MHHA has been engaged in talks with several tracks over the past several months and all have insisted that cost sharing be part of any deal.

This agreement makes Northville Downs the primary venue for harness racing moving forward and the live racing schedule there will likely include summer months. To help facilitate upgrades at Northville necessary for summer racing, the MHHA has agreed to support a funding request from the Agriculture Equine Industry Development Fund for that purpose. In exchange, Northville has agreed to support the use of Simulcast Purse Pool funds to offset any impact the AEIDF request may have on Colt Stakes or Breeder Award funding.

The MHHA continues negotiations with other operators, but it’s impossible to predict where those negotiations might lead until any possible additional deals are inked. Finalizing the Northville contract, despite its necessary compromises, represents a robust race schedule at a facility with proven revenue. It’s hoped that ongoing discussions will add additional racing opportunities for our horsemen in 2015 and beyond.

It’s clear that the future of Michigan horse racing hinges on the industry’s ability to find additional revenue sources. This agreement with Northville Downs represents an opportunity to not only provide horsemen with some predictability, but work together toward a broader solution to the collective challenges we face. Our agreement with Northville provides, for the first time ever with any operator, a framework for the sharing of possible additional revenue sources with the horsemen.

We anticipate that the MGCB will be evaluating Northville Downs’ request to switch their 2014 race dates from Thoroughbred to Standardbred in the near future. If approved, there are a number of logistical issues that will need to be addressed before a race schedule can be worked out. As further details emerge, we will update the membership accordingly.