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MRAto Construct New Detroit Track Directors Vote Unanimously For ,000,000 Plant With Mile Oval for 1950 Sport FAIR GROUNDS, Detroit, Mich., May 28. Construction of a new race track for the Detroit area will get under way within two weeks, according to the announcement here today by vice-president George Hag-garty, of the Michigan Racing Association, which organization voted unanimously to build the new racing plant. The final decision to construct the ,000,000 course came after Haggarty returned this morning from New York, where he conferred with interests that have invested in the MRA. Haggarty said options for the 335-acre site, which is located at Middlebelt and Schoolcraft roads, were being taken up today. The MRA is now conducting its initial 80-day meeting at the Fair Grounds, which is closed to thoroughbred racing by law after January 1, 1950. Haggarty stated that the new plant would be ready for next seasons sport. The grandstand and clubhouse for the new plant will seat 8,000 patrons, with additional room on the lawns for an additional 25,000 racing followers. Parking space for 11,000 automobiles is one of the features of the nations latest planned modern racing grounds. The track will be one mile oval, with a seven-furlong chute and a mile and one-quarter chute. The new Detroit track will be located about 14 miles northwest of the City Hall. Haggarty Issues Statement-Vice-president Haggarty issued the following statement here today relative to the new Michigan Racing Associations decision to construct the new plant: "The board of directors of Michigan Racing Association has concluded unanimously to proceed immediately with the construction of a new racing plant at Middlebelt and Schoolcraft Roads, in Livonia Township, for use in 1950. The postponement of a final decision has caused no delay because, pending this conclusion, architects John Sloan, of New York, and Giff els and Vallet, of Detroit, have been working at top speed to complete the plans and specifications, and this work is substantially completed. The decision to build was based upon: "First The unanimous support the Association received from the Governor and the State Administrative Board in selecting it to conduct racing at the State Fair Grounds in 1949 and, as a result thereof, the moral obligations assumed by the Association to build a new plant for use in 1950. "Second The action of the Legislature in barring racing at the Fair Grounds after 1949 on the premise that such a new plant would be built. "Third The action of the Legislature in approving racing in Michigan by refusing to enact Senate Bill 219 and the sup- port in the Legislature for racing publicly stated by Chairman Bert J. Storey, of the State Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, who spoke authoritatively for the House and for a majority of the members of the State Senate. "Fourth The overwhelming and volun-tary support of hundreds of thousands of Michigan citizens, as evidenced by the petitions signed by them, the flood of letters received, and their appearances before the Legislature of the State in favor of racing. The volume of support from all sections of the State, obtained in a 10-day period, demonstrates conclusively that Michigan wants racing."
