It was recently announced that Michigan’s Northville Downs has been awarded 44 Standardbred race dates for 2019, but that none have been granted for Sports Creek Raceway, which might be offering live Thoroughbred racing next year. Although, there is an interesting harness racing caveat related to the proposed Sports Creek deal.
News of the race dates was reported in late October. A subsequent article by NBC 25 News has stated that there is an interesting wrinkle to any potential deal that would see ownership of Sports Creek Raceway change hands.
The NBC 25 News article states that one of the requirements of the deal is that the track would have to be modified for both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing.
Local restaurant owner Agron Gojcaj conveyed his excitement for the potential return of live racing to the community.
“That was like iconic, Sports Creek was one of those things we were known for was the Swartz Creek racetrack and everyone talked about it, it was constantly on the buzz every week,” said Gojcaj.
Gojcaj went on to say, “When it (Sports Creek Raceway) ‘went away’ it was just kind of another facet of the downhill economy and it's exciting to see the uptrend of potentially getting it back.”
(With files from NBC 25 News)