Magna buys Dixon land - for a racetrack?

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Magna Entertainment Corp., which owns eight racetracks including Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields in northern California, has purchased 226 acres of land in Dixon, Ca. For $6.3 million, The Sacramento Bee reported.

The transaction was recorded by the Solano County assessor-recorder's office. Magna previously had an option to buy the land, but pulled back because of opposition from residents and city officials to its plans to build a racetrack there eventually. Magna will eventually have to replace Bay Meadows in San Mateo, as it does not own the track property, only the business.

Although the purchase of the land, just off Interstate 80, has been completed, city officials said they have had no talks with Magna in several months. Any plans to build a racetrack there would probably be subject to an popular vote.

Magna officials could not be contacted. Ron Volkman, northern California spokesman for Magna, declined comment, according to The Bee. "Basically, there isn't and there shouldn't be any comment at this time," he said. "There isn't much to report."