New appeal over Magna license

Magna Entertainment Corp. received a second legal challenge to its bid to build a new Thoroughbred race track in suburban Detroit last week when an unsuccessful applicant for the track license granted to Magna in May appealed the Michigan Racing Commission's decision in Ingham County Circuit Court.

A developer, Same Danou, had sought a license to build a track in suburban Van Buren Township. Danou has filed an appeal claiming Magna still controls the license of Great Lakes Downs near Muskegon in western Michigan. Magna claims it has sold its interest in that license to Richmond Racing. Michigan law forbids any one entity from holding more than one license. Last month, Northville Downs, a harness track, appealed the ruling based on the two-license provision and a statute that prohibits "unfair competition" in the granting of new licenses.

Magna has announced plans to build a new track in suburban Romulus, near Detroit Metropolitan Airport, with ground-breaking planned for next year.