The group that unsuccessfully tried last year to revive racing at Green Mountain Racetrack in Pownal, Vermont, has contacted officials of Magna Entertainment Corp. to see if the racetrack acquisition company might be interested in acquiring the facility.

Magna recently received incorporation for a subsidiary company to build and operate a racetrack in Niagara County in Western New York State. Magna currently owns six Thoroughbred tracks around the country, including Santa Anita Park and Gulfstream Park.

Last year, the Green Mountain group received dates from the Vermont Racing Commission to conduct a harness meeting at the dormant track, but one member of the group did not clear a routine background check. Additionally, there were problems with the group's environmental plan.

The track raced Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds, and greyhounds before closing in 1992.—Bill Heller