Supporters Make Case For 2012 Horse Races

WAITSBURG - Members of the board of the Days of Real Sport, Dayton Days and other groups affiliated with local Class C race tracks scribbled their signatures on a letter to members of the Washington Horse Racing Commission with the hope that the commission will give the tracks money in 2012 to bring back their horse racing events.

The commission's fund balance, a cut of money earned from wagers at Auburn's Emerald Downs, only allowed for six days of Class C racing in 2011. The funding does not come from tax payers. The commission last winter decided to provide those days to the Tri-Cities Horseracing Association in Kennewick because of that facility's significant, recent investment in its track, including a new rail and barn estimated at $150,000 and paid for with state grants.

The annual Waitsburg event Days of Real Sport, which had been held for 97 years, did not take place in May. Dayton Days continued without a horse-racing component.

Walla Walla, Waitsburg and Dayton agreed to let the Kennewick track have all of the commission's funds in 2011 with the understanding that the other tracks would receive money for race days in 2012.

Because there was no racing, Bill Hoff, a Walla Walla resident who stables and trains race horses in Waitsburg, said the local economy took a hit because there was no draw to bring tourists in for Real Days of Sport.

Representatives from Dayton have written their own letter and are also involved in the effort, Hoff said .

Hoff said he would like in 2012 for the commission to give each race track an equal piece of the pie. If the funds were distributed evenly, then each race track could go out and find private funding to carry out more racing dates.

Hoff said Waitsburg was getting about $15,700 from the commission for each racing day, but received none in 2011.

In tough economic times, there has been less money generated at Emerald Downs, so the commission has less than ever to give.

" We need Emerald Downs to do well to generate money," Hoff said.

Without races in Waitsburg last May, Hoff said local business owners took a hit.

"I've been told the Days of Real Sport Weekend was the best economic weekend of the year," he said.

Terry Jacoy, the treasurer of the board that organizes Days of Real Sport each year, said many new businesses have opened up in Waitsburg recently and they should benefit from an event that brings in tourists like Days of Real Sport.

" It's one of the main events that draws people into town," Jacoy said.

The letter to the commission really urges equality, Hoff said.

"We're not trying to shut Kennewick down," he said.

The letter to the commissioners was faxed Tuesday to be included in its packets for Thursday's meeting. Hoff said he and his fel- low horse-racing supporters hope to plant this idea in the minds of the commissioners before they make a decision, so racing can come back to Waitsburg, Walla Walla and Dayton in 2012.

The decision won't likely be made by the commission until early 2012.