Sun Downs, Washington’s only other (Emerald) commercial track, is officially dead. Although the last year this track ran was 2019, I held off calling it because the meets of ’20 and ’21 were covid casualties, and then in ’22 it was, apparently, an insurance issue. But last spring, Benton County, which owns the property, pulled the plug for good, believing that there are better uses for valuable land than racing horses. Said one county commissioner (in the Tri-City Herald): “I look at so many other venues like Walla Walla, and they use theirs for monster truck races and motorcycle races. And that just brings more revenue into the county and I look at that area and I think eventually we could be using that for more events that are more fun.”
Walla Walla, of course, was once a horseracing track. Its closure, along now with Sun Downs, can be found on our exclusive list of shuttered tracks since 2000. Progress…
I live in Waitsburg. The town ended horse racing in 2007 when the state stopped funding their insurance program. A town of 1200 is too small to cover such insurance. In the years since that time the grandstands have deteriorated and are unsafe for any use. The cost of replacing with new grandstands is well beyond the town budget. There are other options under consideration for that valuable piece of property.
Surprisingly, Santa Anita Racetrack in southern California may soon be on the short list as well. – IMHO. In terms of purse money, handicapping and betting handle ,California racing has deteriorated drastically over the past few years. Add to that, California’s “big” races can easily be transferred to Del Mar, while the massive grounds that the track sits on is very highly valuable real estate that I’m sure many SoCal developers have their eyes on. Frankly, I never thought I’d see the day that Hollywood Park would go under, but it did, and Santa Anita will follow. Bet on it.
In my days as a former handicapper, I bet all the So Cal tracks, Santa Anita included, and attended races there many many times. While the view of the San Gabriel Mountains that overlooks the finish line is breathtaking, and the weather of course is always super, the quality of racing and the plethora of dead horses is a one-two combination that should be enough to swear off most people from this game, IF they become aware of it. I myself can no longer enjoy horse racing because of it.
But the shuttering of tracks will continue, until the last one is gone. Bettors, like myself will find other avenues of gaming rather than this blood sport which has, truly, seen its day.
-Joe
It’s interesting that Dayton, Waitsburg, Walla Walla and now Sun Downs in Kennewick are all going to be history as far as live horse racing goes.
The horse racing track in Waitsburg is still there and can be seen from Hwy 12 while driving. It’s in a nice green area between farm fields and the town of Waitsburg. I didn’t see any horses the last time I saw it from the highway. But I keep wondering what they are doing with it or are going to do with it, if they use it as a training track, or what? It appeared to be intact from a distance after they lost their three or four racing days in the spring of the year.
Best reason to wear fancy hats 👒🎩 and to pop the cork! 🍾🥂