Harness racing folks are a likeable lot, and I find the ones in Michigan particularly amiable. I had the pleasure of being involved with two events in Michigan earlier this year at the kind invitation of the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association.
The racing industry in Michigan is like that nice kid in high school that not only gets bullied on occasion, but also gets the unintended short-end of the stick most of the time.
It’s a shame, now exacerbated by the depressed U.S. economy. Tonight brings news that Jackson Raceway has closed its doors after 60 years.
In Michigan there seems to be as much passion and honest effort as there is turmoil. My first trip last winter was for the Michigan Equine Conference — a fabulous multi-breed event hosted by the Michigan Equine Partnership. The people I met came from numerous disciplines, roles and backgrounds, but were united in the realization that they had to work cooperatively to make a go of it.
While it’s nice to speak of unity while holding hands and singing Kumbaya, such togetherness usually indicates rock bottom is near, or here.
Although they’re pitted against enormous political and economic obstacles, let’s hope the state’s industry leaders can leverage that unity. Soon.
That is too bad! We spent
That is too bad!
We spent some time in Michigan this summer which included a stop in "Historic Jackson"
A nice small track with pretty good support from what I saw. I guess that leaves just the Hazel Park/ Northville circuit and Sports Creek in the winter, and their fair Circuit, which I must say is pretty good in Michigan. We went to Holland for the Wolverine futurity and Midland for the Spartan...Great days but with tracks going down like they have over the last decade or so..Muskegeon, Saginaw and now Jackson...It doesn't look good does it?