According to a story on the Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association website, the state racing commission is looking at slashing 2009 race dates at Hazel Park due to a budget reduction.
According to mhha-online.com, the executive order reducing state funding for the last four months of the state fiscal year ending September 30, 2009 includes a reduction of $1.4 million in the Office of the Racing Commissioner budget.
To comply with the order, commissioner White must submit her reductions to the Office of Management & Budget by Friday, May 22. On Wednesday, May 20, Commissioner White conducted a series of meetings with tracks scheduled to race for the balance of the fiscal year and the related horsemen’s organizations to layout her plan to reduce live racing days.
The original plan would eliminate racing at Hazel Park in June and July and reduce racing to three days per week in August and September. Pinnacle Race Course would be reduced to 25 racing days in June and July with August and September dates eliminated. Mount Pleasant Meadows would be reduced a similar percentage of scheduled dates.
The MHHA, Hazel Park, Northville Downs and Sports Creek Raceway are vigorously analyzing opportunities to reinstate these days during meetings on Thursday, May 21. This is a work in progress.
The note concludes by saying that additional information will be posted when available.
(With files from mhha-online.com)