According to an article today by The Jackson Citizen Patriot the future of Jackson Harness Raceway in Jackson, Michigan is up in the air heading into 2009.

The report states that the owners of the track, MTR Gaming Group Inc., has until December 15 to work out a contract with the Michigan Harness Horsemen Association.

MTR lost $1 million in the two years after it purchased Jackson Harness Raceway in 2005. MTR acquired a 90 percent interest in the Jackson Trotting Association, LLC, which operates the track.

``The track does have live racing dates scheduled for 2009. The question is, `Will they race them?''' MHHA president Brett Boyd was quoted as saying. ``Right now, I think it's a toss-up. I think it's 50-50.''

The company continued to lose money on the track this year. MTR reported a $2.6 million loss related to Jackson Harness Raceway in its recent third-quarter report and said it projects future operating losses relating to the track.

The report also said that Jackson Trotting has ``substantially exhausted its operating funds'' and that MTR can't continue sending money its way.

To read The Jackson Citizen Patriot article in its entirety, click here

(With files from The Jackson Citizen Patriot)