Tribe Reaches Deal To Operate Playfair
The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe announced Tuesday an agreement in principle to operate Playfair Race Course.
Sonny Bargala, secretary of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribal Council, was in Spokane Tuesday to sign the letter of intent with Playfair owner Jack Pring.
The Tribe agreed to lease the Spokane track for four years plus an option year for undisclosed terms.
A formal agreement is expected in the next 15 to 30 days, Bargala said, pending approval of racing dates and the granting of a license from the Washington Horse Racing commission.
The commission meets today in Auburn. An update on the Spokane track is on the agenda.
Representatives of the track - renamed Playfair Park - are seeking a 60-day season that includes 43 days of state-wide simulcasting from Sept. 19 through January.
In 59 seasons the track has never operated beyond the first week of December.
The tribe may ask for a summer season next year without simulcasting, plus state-wide simulcasting dates of mid-September until November.
The Muckleshoot eventually want to broadcast races from Spokane, not only to their casino in Auburn but to off-track betting venues in other Native American gaming facilities.
“We’re trying to look beyond racing here as it’s been,” said Eric Durban, controller of the tribe’s casino in Auburn. “We don’t look just to bring an out-of-state signal in. A crucial part of this is getting this signal out.
“We’re looking to send the signal up, not just within the state but out-of-state as well. That would require changes in the state law regarding common pooling (of the parimutuel betting handle).”
Playfair racing secretary Ted Martin called Tuesday’s agreement “The best news we’ve had here for a long time.”
But the priority is not the feasibility of cold-weather racing or the vision of a brighter future. Initial business is to convince the commission, and the president of the new track in Auburn - Ron Crockett - that interests are compatible.
The tribe’s chairman, Virginia Cross, was quoted in a news release as supporting the “commitment” of Crockett, the president of Emerald Downs.
“The tribe presently operates the second-largest off-track betting facility in the state (at its Auburn casino),” Cross said. “Mr. Crockett’s commitment … to racing throughout the state encouraged the tribe to make this investment, and ensure that racing in the state survives and thrives.
Playfair has been struggling financially. Its bid for legislative relief was turned down earlier this year.
Stan Horton, who leased the track for four years, placed losses at $750,000.
Saying the Muckleshoot “is getting ready to take on quite an undertaking,” Pring called on the racing commission to observe “an act of fairness” in considering the tribe’s application.
“Just because we’re over here in Spokane and maybe haven’t had a shining relationship (with the commission), we’re still entitled to (racing) dates,” Pring said. “It’s a mystery to me that the industry would take away Stan’s racing dates at Playfair in the interests of a track on the Coast.
“They (Crockett) have made a big investment but Playfair has made an investment in the industry as well. If we hang together we’ll be proud of what the Muckleshoot will do down the road.”
Durban said the “tribe is not able, under any circumstances, to bring (casino gambling) here unless it were to be allowed at another race track (in the state).”
Expanded simulcasting, however, is in the plan.
“The groups that worked together to see this letter of intent come this far have made a lot of concessions,” Bargala said. “The track owner and the horsemen have shown that they want to keep horse racing alive in Spokane.”
, DataTimes