Hazel Park Meet to End 10 Days Early

Blood-Horse

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has, at the request of Hazel Park Raceway, ordered an early end to the track’s meet, given the track’s lack of financial resources.

The meet was scheduled to end Sept. 12. Under the new schedule, 10 of 40 scheduled days will be lost at Hazel Park, which offers two evening programs per week.

The six Michigan Sire Stakes races, each valued at $40,000, are scheduled for Aug. 8.

“Hazel Park Raceway requested 40 days of live racing, which we granted,” MGCB executive director Richard Kalm said in a release. “We were disappointed to learn there are insufficient funds available to race beyond Aug. 8. This is an unfortunate and serious matter.”

The MGCB said it is investigating why Hazel Park “did not fulfill its obligations under the law.” Kalm said it appears to be a matter of overspending, not “malfeasance or misspending.”

Kalm said the Thoroughbred purse pool was depleted rapidly so far this year. The Michigan Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association had projected about $51,000 a night in purses, but the MGCB said at times about $75,000 was spent per program.

For 24 nights from May 1-July 18, Thoroughbred purses have averaged $63,643 at Hazel Park, according to The Jockey Club Information Systems. Field size has averaged 6.82 horses per race on the five-eighths-mile racing surface.

There is about $1 million in purse money available from simulcast revenue, but under a 1995 law it must be used for Standardbred racing. The Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association currently has no contract with Hazel Park.

The horsemen’s group does have a contract with Northville Downs, which will hold its harness meet from August through mid-November this year.

“The MGCB remains willing to work with (Hazel Park) management if it can find a solution to its financial challenges,” Kalm said. “However, the MGCB must work within the framework of state law. We encourage all of the parties involved in the horse racing industry, including the tracks and the horsemen’s associations, to cooperate to best meet the challenges faced by the industry.”