Before the ping of the emailed press release announcing the sale of the Birmingham Racecourse had quieted, the speculation had already started.
What does this mean for the future of gambling in Alabama? And what does it mean for the Birmingham Racecourse?
The answer to both appears to be: Good things.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians acquiring the racecourse, which has served primarily as a historical horse racing and pari-mutuel simulcast casino since 2020, sent a quick shockwave through the state’s gambling world. The track has been owned by the McGregor family since 1992 and occupies a prime piece of real estate between two major interstates in Alabama’s second largest city.
