Northville
1990´s
Challenges and changes for Michigan horse racing as the century ends.
· Julie Krone, a Michigan native who rode at the county fairs, becomes the first woman jockey to ride and win one of the Triple Crown Races, the 1993 Belmont Stakes.
· Casino gaming comes to Windsor in 1995 and Detroit area tracks´ wagering levels drop approximately 30%.
· Unified as never before, Michigan Racing Industry participants, coordinating with the Office of Racing Commissioner, draft legislation to save their industry.
· The Racing Law of 1995 is passed and signed by Governor Engler, retitling the law and authorizing full-card simulcasting for Michigan tracks.
· The first full-card simulcast occurs on January 30, 1996, at Ladbroke DRC and all Michigan tracks are offering full-card simulcasting by the summer of 1996.
· Total wagering for 1996 increases 50% over 1995 due to fullcard simulcasting allowing all Michigan tracks to be open for the entire year.
· Muskegon Race Course closes unexpectedly on May 19, 1997, after running only 6 days of its live Harness racing.
· After 49 years, Ladbroke DRC is sold for land development, conducting its last day of live racing on November 8, 1998, and closes completely at year´s end.
· The Muskegon Race Course is bought, rebuilt, renamed Great Lakes Downs, and opened in April 1999, giving the state Thoroughbred industry a place to race.
· As the 20th century closes, Michigan horse racing faces increased competition from the lottery, Detroit casinos, Canadian tracks with slot-machines, and other racing venues.
2000 and beyond
Racing to the future”¦
· The Michigan Racing Industry begins the 21st century working on the development of ways to stay in business against intense competition and protect the $1.2 billion in economics of the industry and the more than 42,000 jobs it creates across the state.
· In January 2000, Magna International Corporation is approved to purchase Great Lakes Downs, making it the sixth Thoroughbred track owned by the growing Magna racing subsidiary.
· To raise the profile of racing in Michigan, the Office of Racing Commissioner creates a broad program of activities, awards, and events that increase the public´s education and interest in the sport of horse racing.
· In May of 2000, Michigan crowns its first Equestrian Princess, Erin Elizabeth Waddell of South Lyon.
· On August 7, 2000, Michigan´s Julie Krone becomes the first woman jockey or trainer ever inducted into the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame. Her record includes:
· Winningest woman rider of all time with 3,545 wins
· Riding 20,481 mounts that earned over $81 million
· Only woman rider to win a Triple Crown race with Colonial Affair in 1993
· Co-holder for most victories on a card, five, at Saratoga in 1993
· American Paint Horses are authorized to race, and on September 23, 2000, Cool Colors becomes the first Paint to win a race at Mount Pleasant Meadows.
· From its beginning in September 1933 through the year 2000, the Michigan parimutuel horse racing industry has:
· Raced 40,644 dates
· Attracted 144,035,191 fans
· Wagered over $12.5 Billion
· Generated $896 Million in revenue
