EDIT ON JAN. 30, 2014 AT END.
MICHIGAN GAMING CONTROL BOARD – HORSE RACING SECTION
OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In the matter of:
John Carlo, Peter Battista, Margaret Zayti Partnership, d/b/a Northville Downs Application for a 2014 Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Mixed Meet Race Meeting License and 2014 Simulcast Permit Amended to reduce live race days from 26 to 10 on October 22, 2013. ORDER DENYING NORTHVILLE DOWNS A 2014 THOROUGHBRED AND MIXED MEET RACE MEETING LICENSE Northville Downs filed an application on August 30, 2013, for a 2014 Standardbred, Thoroughbred, and Mixed Meet Race Meeting license and a 2014 Simulcast Permit with the Executive Director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board. The application was filed under the Horse Racing Law of 1995, Public Act 279 of 1995; MCL 431.301 et seq., and the promulgated administrative rules. On October 22, 2013 Northville Downs submitted a significant and untimely amendment to their application to decrease live race days from 26 to 10. That request was denied on November 1, 2013.
On November 1, 2013 the Executive Director granted the application of the licensee for a Standardbred 2014 Race Meeting license at Northville Downs for the 26 live race days requested in the original application. While the Horse Racing Law of 1995 does not provide for the submission of race meeting applications after September 1 of each year, the Executive Director, in the best interest of racing, allowed Northville Downs to submit an amended application subject to certain conditions listed in that order and referenced below. Northville Downs represented that the amended application was for the primary purpose of converting its track to allow for
thoroughbred racing. The conditions for considering the amended application for a Thoroughbred and Mixed Meet Race Meeting license included the following:
(a) Amend the application for a 2014 Race Meet license by answering all questions as they pertain to the horse breed(s) contracted to race at the 2014 Northville Downs race meet.
(b) The licensee must submit a signed contract with all certified horsemen’s organization(s) representing the breed(s) of horses the applicant intends on racing.
(c) The licensee must submit a business plan detailing how the combination and/or changeover from Standardbred to Thoroughbred and mixed breeds will occur. That plan should detail the costs, funding and timeline involved with converting the track.
Replies to the above conditions were required to be adequately and sufficiently submitted to the Executive
Director by December 1, 2013 to allow for these amendments to be considered. However, Northville Downs has failed to meet the above conditions.
Specifically, Northville Downs has failed to demonstrate a definitive, specific, and detailed plan that could be approved according to the Horse Racing Law of 1995. The Executive Director finds the following deficiencies:
1. The licensee failed to supply a convincing plan to assure sufficient numbers of Thoroughbred horses and Quarter Horses for the proposed meet.
2. No assurance that sufficient simulcast purse pool money will be available for such a race meeting.
3. The amended application is untimely due to the ordered race dates commencing in January 2014 which does not allow for complete vetting of the application.
4. No assurance that the track will be safe for the proposed function and on par with industry standards.
5. No assurance of funding for the track conversion.
6. The submitted plan does not appear to be in the best interest of horse racing in the State Of Michigan for 2014.
Accordingly, Northville Downs’ amended application for a Thoroughbred and Mixed Breed race meeting license is denied.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: December 18 2013
Richard Kalm, Executive Diirector Michigan Gaming
Control Board
Jan. 21, 2014
Reporting on both the MIHBPA (http://www.mihbpa.com/news.html)& MHHA (http://www.mhha-online.com/newsite/index.php)websites out of a clear blue sky signs an order approving both Northville Downs & Hazel Park applications for Thoroughbred Racing in 2014.
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