ATLANTA, Ga. (January 16, 2016) – The Georgia Horse Racing Coalition, a group of leading business and civic leaders dedicated to bringing first-class horse racing to Georgia, unveiled today plans for a ground-breaking mixed-use race track development designed by Populous, a global architecture and urban planning firm known for revolutionary entertainment and sports designs.
“Our vision has always been for more than just a race track in Georgia. Our goal is to reinvent horse racing by combining a race track with a mixed-use development and park to create the ultimate fan experience at no expense to taxpayers,” says Dean Reeves, Coalition president and owner of 2013 Breeder’s Cup Classic winner, Mucho Macho Man. “If horse racing is approved by voters, Georgia would become the home of a state-of-the-art track that is just as innovative as the new facilities for the Braves.”
Populous, headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., has designed more than 2,000 projects worth $30 billion, including horse race tracks on five continents. The firm is dedicated to creating environments that draw people and communities together for unforgettable experiences. Populous projects include the Braves’ new Sun Trust Park in Atlanta, Ascot Racecourse in the UK, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Yankee Stadium and many others in the world’s top cities and on more than 120 university campuses.
“What makes this design so unique is that on race days, the Georgia facility is a fully activated, high-tech experience connecting fans and racing like no other race track in the world, but on non-race days the park is a destination for concerts, festivals, dining, shopping, public events and other activities,” adds Reeves.
“Our hope is that Georgia voters understand that no taxpayer dollars will be needed to build a track and more than 5,000 jobs will be created through this development, and they will urge their legislators to support our bill to bring horse racing to Georgia,” says Jack Damico, Coalition Vice-President and Managing Partner of the Posse Racing Stable. “This will be a year-round facility that Georgians will be proud of.”
If horse racing is approved by voters, construction of the track would begin immediately and would be expected to take two years. A site for the facility has yet to be determined.
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Populous has been recognized more than 200 times with global design awards, including three national American Institute of Architects awards, and has repeatedly been listed as one of Fast Company magazine’s most innovative companies. Indicative of the firm’s vision and approach, designs for places like Yankee Stadium, the London Olympic Games, San Antonio’s McEnery Convention Center and Sporting Park have created emotional connections between people and the civic sports and entertainment places and events they love best.
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The Georgia Horse Racing Coalition is a non-profit 501 C (6) organization whose mission is to educate Georgians about the value of the great American sport of horse racing and what it will bring to our state by generating jobs, tax revenues for Hope scholarship and tourism. The Coalition is working with state leaders to pass legislation allowing pari-mutuel wagering in Georgia in order to encourage and support a statewide racing industry. Learn more at www.gahorseracing.org.
Media Contact:
Steve Crayne, Executive Director
(770) 853-0318