Facing Opposition, Developers Withdraw Racetrack Plan for Dixon

Proponents of a horse-racing track have withdrawn plans to build it in this small city near Sacramento, where many opposed the project.

In a faxed letter to Dixon city leaders, Magna Entertainment Corp. said it is seeking other sites for the 225-acre track complex.

The letter ended hopes of attracting tourism dollars with the track. City officials said they thought the company had been scared away by growing resident opposition.

The company was looking for a track site to replace Bay Meadows in San Mateo, which is slated for closure next year. The owners of that track want to develop the land.

Magna Entertainment owner Frank Stronach announced the track plans to Dixon residents in July. At a meeting, he said he wanted to see how residents responded to the proposal.

Opponents charged that a racetrack would bring more crime and traffic to the town of 15,000 people.

Mayor Don Erickson said he hopes the Magna announcement does not discourage development.

“I resent this if it turns out Dixon was just a pawn in their chess game,” Erickson said.

“It gives others in the development community the impression that we are not a hospitable place. That’s not accurate at all,” he said.