Racing commission OKs 2010 schedule

AUBURN, Wash. — The Washington Horse Racing Commission on Thursday approved an 89-day schedule for Emerald Downs and 19 days for tracks in Kennewick, Walla Walla, Waitsburg and Dayton.

But unless things improve financially in the industry, commission chairman Paul George said 2010 might be the last year the smaller facilities in eastern Washington will host racing.

Emerald Downs’ meeting will begin April 9 and run through Sept. 26, according George. The eastern Washington meetings will start April 3 in Kennewick and run weekends only at the Tri-Cities track for 10 days through May 2.

The following weekend, May 8-9, will find Walla Walla hosting, with Waitsburg running May 15-16, and Dayton completing the Blue Mountain circuit on May 29-30.

George said the Emerald Downs meeting will be two days shorter than last year’s because of calendar breaks. But he also emphasized that because Emerald Downs revenue was down about 12 percent last year, funding for the eastside venues might not be available beyond this year.

“This was a very important meeting,” George said. “We made some cuts in our budget and we fully funded those 19 days with the clear understanding from me, in the chair, and our executive secretary (Robert Lopez), that if our budget forecasts hold, we will probably not have money to fund them in 2011.

“These small tracks are the last bastions of parimutuel racing in eastern Washington. But unless the handle at Emerald Downs turns around dramatically and some other things happen, 2010 could very well be the last year for the Blue Mountain circuit.”