New harness track proposed in Delaware

A new harness track has been proposed by two real estate developers from Sussex County, Del. The $60 million development would include a one mile track, a 2,500-seat grandstand, and a 750-seat clubhouse. The current plan does not include slot machines, but it has not been ruled out for the future according to the developers.

The duo, Gene Lankford and Preston Schell, who plan to name to venue Del Pointe, have applied to the Delaware Harness Racing Commission (DHRC) for approval of a 45 to 60 day racing season in July and August, saying they want to race on date’s when the state’s other tracks are not in session.

"They have officially handed in the application to the commission," Hugh Gallagher, the commission's executive director, told delewareonline.com. "They filled it out in detail and dotted every I and every T. This is not some fly-by-night group that doesn't know everything that needs to be done or is involved. This is definitely a serious application."

Lankford says that he expects to gain customers from summer vacationers at the nearby Rehoboth Beach, expecting crowds of 4,000-5,000 daily.

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