Northville updates on 2023 meet

As Northville Downs readies for its first round of qualifiers this coming Thursday, March 16, 2023, additional harness racing meet details have come to light.

Entries for Thursday’s qualifying races must be submitted by Tuesday, March 14, 2023, with the box closing Tuesday at 12pm EDT. Trainers are advised to use the USTA’s Online entry system which is recommended and preferred. Qualifying races will again be held at Northville Downs on March 23, 2023. First post time for qualifying races will be 11:00am for both days.  

Trainers are also advised to be sure they have a negative coggins (within past 12 months) and current proof of rhino vaccination (EHV-1) (within the past six months) on file prior to entry with the state vet office and this will be strongly enforced for 2023. Horsemen may fax these in to 248-349-9139. In addition, horsemen should refer to the condition sheets on USTrotting.com for all 2023 Northville Downs’ race meet guidelines and requirements.

It is important to note that the Michigan Gaming Control Board is instructing all horsemen and women, as well as all racing participants (including racetrack employees at all levels) to complete fingerprinting and licensing requirements before horses are entered to qualify and race. In doing so, this will allow ample time for the MGCB to receive said fingerprint results on-time prior to qualifiers and the race meet commencing. In 2023, before you can be granted a license, you must get fingerprinted, and the results must be received by the MGCB Licensing Office. Please refer to the MGCB website for additional licensing and fingerprinting resources at https://www.michigan.gov/mgcb/horse-racing. 

Northville Downs is excited to announce that the meet will open with purses having a nightly average of $70,000. It is expected that horse owners and trainers will fill the box with enough entries to provide full fields and competitive races throughout the 52-night race meet. 

Racing will be contested each Friday and Saturday evening, beginning April 7, through Sept. 30, with a new first race post time of 7 p.m. each race night for the Michigan oval. For live racing dining reservations, be sure to call Northville Downs in advance at 248-924-2073.

by Ken Terpenning, for Northville Downs