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Detroit Track Competitors Trade Barbs

DETROIT, Michigan – As reported by the Detroit News: "It's not quite the Hatfields and the McCoys, but the battle to build a horse track at the Michigan State Fairgrounds has gotten personal.

"Andrew G. McLemore Jr., who is leading Detroit Thoroughbred Raceway Inc.'s application to build a horse track at the fairgrounds in Detroit, said Tuesday he was stunned by casino owner Don Barden's decision to file a rival application with the state.

"McLemore and Barden's respective companies met in early March to discuss teaming up to propose a $125-million horse racing complex that would include a hotel, a conference center and up to four restaurants.

"…It was only from news reports this week that McLemore learned that Barden had filed an application with the state Office of the Racing Commissioner to operate a horse track with video lottery terminals at either the fairgrounds, at Eight Mile and Woodward, or in Taylor or Westland.

"…Barden, chairman of Majestic Star Casino in Gary, Ind., and Fitzgeralds Casinos in Las Vegas, Colorado and Mississippi, disputes McLemore's version of events.

"…Barden said McLemore had not returned more than two dozen phone calls from him over the past three weeks to discuss the horse track proposal.

"…In addition to McLemore and Barden, three other groups are competing for state licenses, including Danou Enterprises Inc. in either Van Buren Township or Allen Park, Magna Entertainment Corp. in Romulus and Xanadu Development Inc. in Highland Park…"

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