Oregon track Portland Meadows to close after 74 years of racing

Portland Meadows racecourse in Oregon will not reopen for racing after a permit application was filed to redevelop the track. The Stronach Group-owned 64-acre site, which first opened 74 years ago and was the first US track to stage floodlit thoroughbred racing, hosted what turned out to be its final meeting on February 5.

Construction on Portland Meadows began on November 20, 1945 under the direction of William Kyne, who is also the founder of the former Bay Meadows racecourse.

Portland Meadows opened on September 14, 1946 with more than 10,000 people attending. In 2001, Magna Entertainment, which evolved into The Stronach Group, purchased the Portland Meadows racing licence.

Although not stipulating any additional details of the sale, Oregon Commission executive director Jack McGrail implied the closure had been on the horizon since August.

"The bottom line is, we fully expect the property to be sold at some point," he said. "It looks like it's going forward from what they've told us."

The Oregon Racing Commission also approved a licence application for racing at Grants Pass racecourse, which has stepped in to host some of Portland Meadows' autumn fixtures.

Officials from the track and The Stronach Group could not be reached for comment by Bloodhorse.

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