Wind Creek Hospitality is acquiring the Birmingham Racecourse for an undisclosed amount.

Owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Atmore-based Wind Creek has purchased the track and its holdings from its longtime owners, the McGregor family, with the sale expected to be finalized early in 2025.

Wind Creek said in a release Monday that it will transform the track “into a premier entertainment destination in the Southeast and will continue to offer parimutuel and historical horse racing games currently in operation.”

The deal signals a new direction for a venue that began with great fanfare nearly 40 years ago but which struggled at times to realize its potential.

The sale was finalized in the last few days, but discussions had been ongoing for some time, according to sources close to the deal. Lewis Benefield, president of the Birmingham Racecourse and VictoryLand, said the track has “worked to provide the best possible experience for our customers and employees, while generating significant tax revenue for the state of Alabama and local charities.”

“We have paid hundreds of millions of dollars to the State of Alabama and to local schools, hospitals, charities and other organizations that need financial support,” Benefield said.

The track opened in March 1987 as the Birmingham Turf Club, an $85 million facility on 7,000 acres for thoroughbred horse racing. The city and the region had high hopes for the Turf Club, with eventual designs on an entertainment complex. But the large crowds envisioned by its backers didn’t materialize, and within a year, the operators filed for bankruptcy. The course was eventually bought by Milton McGregor in 1992, and his family has continued to operate it after his death in 2018.

In 1992, a referendum allowed greyhound races at the track. Horse racing ended at the venue in June 1995, and live greyhound racing ceased in 2020, with the Racecourse relying on simulcasts.

Benefield said “legislative hurdles have presented challenges” to attempts to realize the Racecourse’s potential.

“The people of Birmingham desire the same types of entertainment offered at other facilities in and around Alabama,” Benefield said. “Unfortunately, differing state laws and enforcement actions regarding gaming have limited our ability to compete effectively. The McGregor family will now focus their efforts on VictoryLand in Macon County and advocate for unified gaming legislation in Alabama which would capture much-needed revenue for the people of Alabama.”

Wind Creek Hospitality said in its announcement that it plans to expand the investments made in recent years at the Racecourse and “will be working closely with local elected and racing officials on steps moving forward as the sale is finalized and expansion plans are developed.”

Arthur Mothershed, vice president of business development for Windcreek, represented the tribe in the deal.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians are descendants of a segment of the original Creek Nation, which at one time covered nearly all of Alabama, as well as Georgia. They have lived together for nearly 200 years in and around their reservation in Poarch in southwestern Alabama.

Among the tribe’s business interests is the OWA Parks & Resort in Foley and Wind Creek Casino in Atmore. But their enterprises extend well beyond Alabama, with locations in the United States and the Caribbean.

In a statement, Wind Creek Hospitality CEO Jay Dorris recognized the McGregor family for work maintaining the racecourse.

“Over those years, it became clear to us that we share many of the same goals – providing great entertainment, attracting tourism and creating economic growth In Alabama. We are really looking forward to welcoming their employees and to moving forward together,” Dorris said.

Stephanie Bryan, Tribal Chair and CEO of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, said Wind Creek will make this facility a “major economic force for the area in creating more jobs, taxes and support for the local community.”

“Birmingham is one of the most vibrant cities in America, and we feel very fortunate that this acquisition will allow us to increase the investment and deepen the relationships that we already have in Birmingham,” she said. “When it comes to attracting tourism, this is an incredibly important area of the state. We are committed to building on the success of both the Birmingham Racecourse and Casino and our Wind Creek brand by ensuring that this property will keep tourist dollars here at home and provide jobs that support Alabama families.”