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HorseRacing

The Birmingham Race Course: A Journey of Triumphs and Trials

2024-11-21

Whether the Birmingham Race Course initially held the favor of being a heavy favorite or a long shot, it faced significant challenges as it traversed the stretch of a track that proved more difficult than anticipated with odds that were longer than expected. On November 18th, Wind Creek Hospitality made an announcement. It is acquiring the Birmingham Race Course for an undisclosed amount. Owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and based in Atmore, Wind Creek has purchased the track and its holdings from the longtime owners, the McGregor family. In a release on Monday, Wind Creek stated that it will transform the track "into a premier entertainment destination in the Southeast and will continue to offer parimutuel and historical horse racing games currently in operation." However, the details of what this transformation will entail remain unclear. Kip Keefer, the chairman of the Birmingham Racing Commission, mentioned that they have not yet received any paperwork related to the sale, which is expected to be finalized early in 2025. Attempts to get a comment from Wind Creek were not immediately successful.

Excitement and Potential

Birmingham City Councilman Hunter Williams, who chairs the council's Economic Development & Tourism Committee, expressed excitement about the deal. He noted that although the ink on the deal is not even dry yet, he sees great potential. "That site has been there for several decades and at its time, it was a premier spot. Time had its toll on it, and it became less and less a premier spot," Williams said. "When you have a group like the Poarch (Band of) Creek Indians, who have funding and knowledge of running an entertainment site like that, it has a definite upside. They’ve been able to execute on some top-notch facilities that bring jobs and second line jobs for groups that service them, as well as a lot of revenue. I think there’s a lot of upside."

History of the Birmingham Race Course

Whatever the future plans may be, they will have a tough act to follow when it comes to the ambition with which the venue opened back on March 4, 1987. According to reports at the time, the Birmingham Turf Club, as it was then known, welcomed more than 13,000 visitors on opening day. Traffic backed up for miles along John Rogers Drive, named for the legislator who pushed for the track. Crowds flocked as the gates opened. The Turf Club was an $85 million showplace, with a seven-story grandstand that could seat 5,200. There were several restaurants, lounges, and private meeting areas. The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra provided entertainment as high-dollar guests sipped champagne on opening night. Mayor Richard Arrington and several dignitaries were paraded around the track. Queen Alexandra was the first horse to win a pari-mutuel thoroughbred race in Alabama history, and the track tallied a betting handle of more than $720,000. However, there were some ominous signs. A fireworks display sparked a blaze on the turf course. Betting lines backed up as new clerks met new betters, with a bit of miscommunication on both sides of the counter. A computer glitch meant that some people buying tickets found someone else sitting in their seats. And although the opening night total was high, it was below the $1 million that was anticipated. The Turf Club was expected to bring $250 million to the Birmingham metro area and herald the arrival of restaurants, entertainment venues, and other businesses. But by the next night, March 5th, when only 4,500 people showed up, it was clear that many expectations for the Turf Club needed to be rethought. Owners retreated from the champagne and glitz of opening day, slashed prices, and attempted to rebrand the track towards a blue-collar clientele. But on its one-year anniversary, the club was closed with no working capital to operate. Its operators lost more than $50 million during a 175-day season.

Racing Returns and Challenges

Racing returned in 1989 with a new name - the Birmingham Race Course - but discussions about the sustainability of greyhound racing were already underway. In 1992, a referendum allowed dogs at the track. New owner Milton McGregor began a $7 million conversion, putting the dog track inside the thoroughbred course. On October 29th of that year, more than 12,000 people came for the first day, with bets on the inaugural race totaling more than $112,000. The dog gamble seemed to have paid off. But again, the opening day crowds did not predict better times ahead. Within a few months, McGregor's other venue, VictoryLand, was outearning the Race Course. Over the years, horse racing ended at the venue in June 1995. On two occasions over the next 20 years, the track needed bailout money to continue operating, and one time it ran three years behind on property taxes. McGregor's family kept the track going after his death in 2018. In 2019, the course began offering machines that allowed users to place wagers on horse races that had already taken place, while simulcasting races elsewhere continued. Live greyhound racing ceased at the Race Course in 2020 due to the COVID-19 shutdown. A representative at the time stated that receipts from live greyhound racing in the years leading up to the decision had become "embarrassingly low." Dog racing was also losing popularity nationwide. The Race Course then oversaw the disposition of around 800 greyhounds. Currently, the only two operational dog tracks remaining in the United States are both located in West Virginia. Commercial greyhound racing is illegal in 43 states, and Alabama is one of only six states where it remains legal, but no racing takes place.