Northville Downs sues state against gambling laws

Officials at Northville Downs in Michigan on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit against the governor and state attorney general alleging casinos and state lotteries are killing the racing industry and the restriction against installing slot machines and other forms of expanding gaming violate the U.S. Constitution. The suit comes on the heels of one previously filed by Northville downs against the state’s racing commissioner and governor challenging the issuing of a new Thoroughbred license in the metro-Detroit area to Pinnacle Race Course.

“We are going to explore every avenue we can to move racing in Michigan into the 21^st century like it is in all the other states,” Northville Downs’ John Carlo explained to harnessracing.com Friday morning regarding the Thursday filing against Gov. Jennifer Granholm and attorney general Mike Cox.

The Detroit News reported Friday that Granholm had no comment since she had not yet been served with the lawsuit, while a spokesman for Cox’s office said officials “are reviewing the lawsuit.”

The News story noted that wagering on horse racing in 2007 totaled $261 million, a decrease of 45 percent from the $474.6 million wagered in 1997. The lawsuit alleges that the decline was due in part to the opening of three casinos in downtown Detroit, and it also cites the closing of Saginaw Harness in 2005, the closing of Great Lakes Downs Thoroughbred track (formerly Muskegon Harness) in 2007, and the abandoning of plans Magna Entertainment Corp. had of building a new racetrack.

“Without legislative relief, you will see the end of horse racing in Michigan within three years,” a plaintiff’s attorney told the News. “It’s very serious.”

A 2004 ballot initiative led to an amendment in the state constitution that protects the casinos, and the attorney noted that the suit is alleging it violates the equal protection, due process and commerce clauses of the U.S. constitution.

As for the lawsuit challenging Pinnacle, which broke ground last month and is scheduled to open its first Thoroughbred meet on July 18, Carlo said, “The lawsuit against the racing commissioner and the governor on the issue of the license is on the grounds of harmful competition.”

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