Sports Creek Raceway

Sports Creek Raceway was a harness racing track located on a 100-acre site near Swartz Creek, Michigan.[1]

Sports Creek Raceway
LocationSwartz Creek, Michigan
Owned byAmRace and Sports, LLC
Operated byAmRace and Sports, LLC
Date openedNovember 1986 (1986-11)
Date closedJanuary 1, 2015 (2015-01-01)
Race typeharness racing
Course typeoval

The track opened in 1986, eventually employing 100 workers on live racing days and 40 workers for simulcasting. In 2013, Sports Creek had $676,106 in live wagering and $15.3 million in simulcast wagering.[2] The city received about $425 thousand a year from wager dollars until 1993 when John Engler became Michigan governor. Engler reduced cash flow from the casinos for two years until a new distribution formula allow the state to pay less, $126 to 118 thousand in the mid-2000s.[3]

Revenues steadily declined since 1998, forcing the track to close permanently at the end of 2014. In August 2014, the raceway closed early thus reducing the 2015 season by 8 days down to 30 days.[4] The race track was only give 10 live race days.[2]

Sport Creek Raceway was closed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board on January 1, 2015 when the raceway could not agree to terms with the Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association. With the raceway closing only two horse tracks remain in the state.[2] The association approached the raceway general manager about purchasing the track and claimed that they were rebuffed due to owners not wanting its use again as race track. General manager Chris Locking claimed that was false as it would have been the quickest way to get in back in use.[5]

GM used the raceway's parking lots for storage for trucks awaiting shipment for a period of time starting in November, 2016.[6]

In October, 2018, the raceway was purchased by AmRace and Sports LLC, who plan to reopen the track in 2020 featuring thoroughbred racing and simulcasting. [7]

References
  1. Rocha, Lania (January 8, 2015). "Sports Creek Raceway crosses the finish line grandblancview.mihomepaper.com". The Grand Blanc View. JAMS Media: View Newspapers. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  2. Reindl, JC (January 6, 2015). "Sports Creek closes, leaving 2 horse tracks in state". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  3. Bohn, Dean (October 16, 2009). "Horse racing industry undergoes changes, Sports Creek Raceway attendance declines". Flint Journal. MLive Media Group. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  4. Kozlowski, Andy (May 16, 2016). "Hazel Park Raceway preps for 2016 season". Madison-Park News. C&G Newspapers. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  5. Dresden, Eric (February 4, 2015). "Horsemen's Association says Sports Creek shunned its interest in reopening track". Flitn Journal. MLive Media Group. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  6. Rocha, Lania (December 1, 2016). "In brief: GM using raceway property". Swartz Creek View. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  7. Fonger, Ron (February 8, 2019). "State accepts surrender of 2019 Sports Creek license and permit". MLive. MLive Media Group. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  • sportscreek.com (defunct)


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