New Detroit area thoroughbred track ready to open

[two gun sid]

From the Detroit News:
The track surface is nearly finished. The parking lot is expected to be paved this week. The 1,000-seat grandstand is about to go up.

And, the best sign of all, horses are scheduled to work out on the track Thursday.

While workers scurry throughout the sprawling Pinnacle Race Course complex, Jerry Campbell considers the track's scheduled July 18 opening a sure bet.

"This is what you call, 'On the fly,' " said Campbell, the 68-year-old majority owner of the $72 million track, as he stood Monday in the nearly completed upscale pavilion, which will feature dining and a close-up look at the track.

Pitched to Wayne County officials in October, Pinnacle didn't break ground on 320 acres east of Interstate 275 near Sibley Road until early April. So after a tedious approval process, which included the issuing of 35 permits, Campbell and Co. are in a dead sprint toward the venue's debut.

http://www.detnews.com/Apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080708/SPORTS07/807080352/1004

[TZ]

1. Question...

I didn't see this in the article..are their going to be slots at this track? I ask because of how desperately the horse racing business in Maryland is suffering from the lack of slots which, Delaware, W.Va and Pennsylvania all have..Its actually going to be a referendum in the fall here...

[two gun sid]

2. Nope. No slots. Voters turned it down in 2006...

after a multi-million dollar 'No Slots' campaign financed by the Detroit area casinos.

[TZ]

3. Ah they have casinos though

Interesting.
I'm voting for slots because Maryland racing IS on life support, and I think we are in SERIOUS danger of losing the Preakness...

[two gun sid]

4. Maryland needs them to compete with neighboring states...

but slots are just a short-term solution for the industry. 30 years ago it was simulcasting that was gonna save us. It didn't.

Thanks for voting for slots, though. The industry needs some help right now.

[aaronbees]

5. How do you think it will fly up there?

It's a risky time to open up a new track, but I sure hope it succeeds. Amazing they broke ground in April and are just about ready to roll.

[two gun sid]

6. I'm optimistic. Detroit used to have some hardcore horseplayers.

The economy is very bad but, as you can imagine, people seem to bet more in those kinds of situations. Just last Sunday there was an article in the paper about the increase in the amount of money that was being wagered in the state Lotto. Our local track is seeing about a 20% increase in visitors. I went to the Jackson Harness racing office to pick up a check a couple of weeks ago about an hour before the races and the simulcast area was pretty busy.

They've still got to compete with the Detroit casinos but we've got the horses. And people like horses. So maybe it can work.

Dude, Curlin on the grass Saturday and we've still got Ginger Punch, Zenyatta and Tough Tiz's Sis throughout the rest of the season. Did you see Denis of Cork is out for the year?

[aaronbees]

7. Shame about Cork

Though I don't think this had anything to do with the injury, Denis needs to sneak out of that stall and find a new owner. Hopefully he'll return to form next year but I think it's doubtful. For some reason I'm gonna root for Da'Tara now, and Colonel John. I think BB is done.

Psyched about Curlin. May he run well. (Haskin had a great article about possible scenarios for him in Europe, suggesting the Champion Stakes, if I remember right.) Distaff division rocks, but I'm tellin' ya Zenyatta is a HOY candidate should others falter. She was all kinds of wacky Saturday and still won. She may not figure it out 'til next year at five and still be undefeated.

[two gun sid]

8. The Champion Stakes, that's at Leopardstown...

or The Curragh, right? I'd love to see Curlin go beat up on Aidan's horses in Coolmore's backyard. I think Curlin does well on the grass, I don't know if he can win because of the pace of the race but I think he'll do well.

What we lacked in talented 3YO colts this year is made up by the fact we have some amazing Distaffers this year. I'm a Ginger Punch guy.

[two gun sid]

9. Fans Flock to Pinnacle

From The Detroit News:
For horse owner Henry Mast, the only thing more surprising than being the first winner at Pinnacle Race Course on Friday afternoon was that he couldn't find a parking spot at the track before the race.

"I had to park on the backside near the stables and walk across the track," Mast said. "I was amazed when I saw the traffic -- although I think this area has been ready for it."

And how. It was a banner day, to say the least. You would have figured people would have had to be at work in the middle of the day. Nope. There they were, jam-packed into this beautiful new track minutes away from Metro Airport.

The state-of-the-art track is a showplace. When it's totally finished in 2010, it will include a four-story, 60,000-square-foot clubhouse that includes private suites and boxes, a 4,000-seat grandstand and two tracks, a one-mile dirt track and a 7/8 -mile turf (grass) track.

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080719/OPINION03/807190391/1004

[aaronbees]

10. Nice - did you go?

Well Armed just won an impressive run of the San Diego Handicap. I'm totally enjoying the Del Mar meet so far.

[two gun sid]

11. Had to work.

Got home in time to catch the last couple of races on YouBet. We had 3500 tonite, at our little harness track, for Dollar Nite. We got the lead in the 5th and ran out of gas in the stretch and finished 5th. We got a check to cover expenses.

**on edit** Holy shit! Evening Attire won today and has an automatic bid to the new BC 1 1/2 mile race. I love that old guy!

Lava Man is in tough tomorrow.

[aaronbees]

12. I'd love to see EA in that 1 1/2 mile race

Here's a video for anyone who hasn't see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtsfCyrgAWc. He didn't break too poorly today! :D

Music Note looked like a champ in the CCAO at Belmont.

Lava Man's in pretty tough indeed, but I think his last out was encouraging. We'll see!

[two gun sid]

13. Thanks for the video of Evening Attire

he still enjoys it and he still moves like a much younger horse. Forget all the Big Browns and other flashes in the pan. Evening Attire is 10x the horse they are. He knows more about racing than a lot of humans. Hell, I could ride him and win as long as I stayed quiet and didn't fall off. Evening Attire - Hall of Famer in my book.

[aaronbees]

14. Lava Man

Well, he finished last in that field; you were right ... tough spot. Looks like he still enjoys being out there but has obviously lost a step or two since early last year. I'd like to see how he takes to the Del Mar pseudo-dirt and manages a wee drop in class. He's still competitive out there and lost by only five/six lengths out there today. I'll always love seeing him run as long he's enjoying it.