Horses May Run At Post Falls Site

Horses at Greyhound Park?

It’s a strange marriage that could solve a large problem.

An Idaho businessman is studying the feasibility of adding a five-eighths-mile thoroughbred race track to the greyhound track at Post Falls.

The backer, who asked not to be identified, said he has at least one partner. He revealed an ambitious plan that includes 120 days of horse racing at the Post Falls track from April to October.

The problem it would address is that warmweather racing dates have all but disappeared at Playfair Race Course. Inland Northwest horsemen have been assigned 50 days of racing in Spokane, Sept. 6-Nov. 27.

The reduced season has prompted local owners and trainers to organize, with the goal of restoring race dates here in August.

Some horse people have said they’ll run their stock at other tracks when November weather ends the season here.

Idaho allows full-card simulcasting of thoroughbred racing, which allows Greyhound Park to bring in race cards nationwide. Parimutuel wagering pools generated at Greyhound Park are part of a much larger betting handle at the host track.

Washington state law prohibits comingling of betting pools. Washington maintains its separate parimutuel handle.

Most gamblers prefer the Idaho approach.

With attractive legislation in place, the backer of the plan outlined other marketing ideas for the facility.

Part of the feasibility is determining the horse-racing market. On-site racing at Playfair last summer was a money-loser, except on the nights when the track went in to off-track facilities statewide.

Access to Western Washington, or an another additional population center for satelite wagering, is crucial to Inland Northwest horse people.