Michigan's Standardbred racing takes major funding hit

Standardbred racing in Michigan has taken another major blow with the announcement Monday that because of a massive funding cut to the state’s Department of Agriculture the entire overnight program at the fairs has been eliminated this year, with the long-standing Charles Coon Memorial at Croswell already canceled and the Fedele Fauri Futurities at Kinross likely to be a casualty as well.

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently signed an Executive Order that reduced monies coming to the Standardbred industry by approximately $1.7 million. Breeders awards have also been placed on hold, and the reduction will also have an impact on overnight purses at the pari-mutuel tracks and the colt stake program.

Michigan’s colt stake program is now being restructured from 12 racing weeks to eight racing weeks. Funding for the Sire Stakes program is being reduced by $265,600 from last year's level, which likely means the finals to be held at Hazel Park will have purses of approximately $50,000. The Breeders awards are on hold until September when revenue to the Ag Equine Fund will be reviewed, and if sufficient revenue exists then a retroactive payment will be made based upon available funds.

According to the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association, purse supplements at all pari-mutuel tracks having completed their meets during the state fiscal year have already been paid. The recently-opened Hazel Park received $300,000 of the $401,460 allocated prior to the meet opening; the balance of the funds are presently on hold.

In addition, $221,000 in “outs” (uncashed winning tickets), which would have been distributed to pari-mutuel purse pools  based upon each track’s percentage of total handle at harness tracks last year, is also being held pending revenue reviews later this summer.

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