Former Mich. racing commissioner Nelson Westrin dies

Nelson Westrin, who served as Michigan’s racing commissioner from 1993-97 and later as the first executive director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board, died Wednesday. He was 61.

Mr. Westrin, an attorney, was employed by the Detroit-based law firm of Honigman, Miller, Schwartz and Cohn at the time of his death.

Mr. Westrin was Michigan’s assistant attorney general assigned to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and then to the Lottery and Racing Division as counsel to the Bureau of State lottery and Office of Racing Commissioner. He was appointed to the position of racing commissioner by Gov. John Engler in 1993, and while serving in that office he co-authored the Horse Racing Law of 1995 which legalized full-card simulcasting at the state’s racetracks.

In 1997, Mr. Westrin received the Michigan racing commissioner’s Excellence Award for Distinguished Service to the Michigan horse racing industry. He was also honored in 2002 by state House and Senate resolutions for Distinguished Service for serving as racing commissioner and Gaming Control Board executive director.

Mr. Westrin was also vice chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission from 2002-05. At the time of his death he was also acting in a legal capacity for the new Pinnacle Thoroughbred Race Course that is scheduled to open in July in the metro-Detroit area.

 Funeral services for Mr. Westrin will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3, at St. Gerard Catholic Church in Lansing, Mich. Arrangements by Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Home.

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