New track conceived for Nebraska

A partnership of Nebraska-based concerns on Thursday presented to the General Affairs Committee of the Nebraska Legislature a plan to develop the current Lancaster County Events Center in northeast Lincoln, Neb., to include a one-mile racetrack .

The group, named the Nebraska Horse Park Coalition Partners, includes the Nebraska Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, the Lancaster County Events Center, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and Sunrise Equitherapy, a physical therapy company. It hopes to develop 180 acres of land owned by the University of Nebraska adjoining the existing Lancaster Events Center to the south, creating a facility over nearly 350 acres.

The Nebraska State Fair will move to Grand Island in 2010, and State Fair Park in Lincoln will be developed by the state university as an innovation and technology campus. Racing interests have a loose agreement to host racing at the fairgrounds through 2012.

In addition to a racetrack, the proposed Nebraska Horse Park would house equine science facilities for the university and conduct activities for disabled people involving horses. The Lancaster Events Center currently hosts several equine-related events throughout the year and would be a partner in the campus.

A spokesman for the partnership told assembled legislators that the group hoped to have more detailed plans within six months.