NORTHVILLIANS,
Let’s look at another Historic Gateway into our Community … Northville Downs.
On any given evening, as you come into Northville cresting the hill on Sheldon & 7 Mile, you may see the lights and excitement of Northville Downs. Back before 1900, the location of what is today Northville Downs was merely swampland. Early on, the river that runs through it was routed underneath to dry out the land. It was on the edge of a small private golf course which backed up to the downtown.
After 1900, a local group bought the location and spent a great deal of time filling in the swampy ground and hauling away huge boulders with their horses and wagons. The group brought fill dirt in by the ton to form the base of the present track. Before this time, the locals held horse races on a five-block straightaway stretch of Dunlap St., from Rogers to Center, right in between the Historic Victorian homes that still line that street today. These early racers were the equivalent to the Driving Club who own about 70% of the track property today. In those early racing days on Dunlap and later at the Downs, this Driving Club group would gather with the horse owners and jockeys at the Ambler Hotel on Center & Main Street before & after the races.
In 1907 the track was finally finished at 7 Mile & Sheldon. In 1916 it was decided that a Wayne County Fair should be held in conjunction with the racing activities. This Fair ran for 27 years at Northville Downs and rivaled the State Fair in its quality. In 1926 this same group built a new grandstand at the Downs to accommodate the growing crowds.
After WWII, a group of business folks modernized and invested in the track. Mr. John Carlo was one of this group, and his family has co-owned and managed the track since its modern-day inception in 1944. John, Ed & Mike Carlo are 3rd generation operators of the Downs today. With this group in place, Harness Racing was pioneered in Northville. “Night Races” under the lights became a reality, and I’m told my grandfather (the electrician in town) played a role in helping to make this happen. In the 1980’s, the Downs were managed by John Carlo’s nephew Lou and his longtime local assistant Margaret Zayti.
Turning to today, plans for thoughtful new development could come together soon, but we will always know this area as our Northville Downs gateway. We tip our derby to the Carlo family for all they have done for this community in making the Downs a landmark for close to 100 years in the Ville.
You may want to experience the Downs excitement one night while catching dinner and a drink. It’s fun to watch the parade of drivers navigating their two wheeled carts called sulkies as they rush by on the track. Think about its history when horses raced down our streets and then at the track, and the huge county fairs that were held here. All hosted by the Downs. I encourage you to visit this slice of Northville history while live horses still create the thrill of the race!
Keep that Northville Faith!
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849
(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)
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