Gambling on Horses Coming to New Michigan Pinnacle Race Track

While many across the country are ready to send the horse racing industry to the glue factory, Michigan horse owner and prominent banker Jerry Campbell is gambling that parimutuels can still pay off. Campbell is building Pinnacle Race Track, a $142 million race complex in Michigan near the Detroit airport.

Construction on the new facility will begin in March and be ready to operate about 45 days after that. Temporary seating will be used at first, with the permanent complex containing about 10,000 seats, 20 luxury boxes, a family picnic area, and over 200,000 square feet of retail space.

The new gambling track will have huge benefits to the community. There will be over 2,300 temporary construction jobs created by the project, along with 1,400 track jobs, 1,700 retail jobs, and as many as 20,000 jobs enhanced or created by trickle-down effects, according to comments Campbell has made to local papers.

The new track would be Michigan's only current thoroughbred course. Starting in 2008, a premier race called the Michigan Derby will be held at the track.

Campbell emphasized the track is a community project, and will host 4-H and other local agricultural and outdoor events.

While the country expands casino gambling venues in most states, a new horse track is an unusual expansion, but Campbell is betting that it will be a huge success.

December 9, 2007
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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