Local Horsemen Haven’t Given Up On A 1996 Season Playfair’s Director Of Racing Plans New Tactics After Judge Declines To Grant Restraining Order

Although a denial in court last week represents a serious setback, it’s not too late to salvage a 1996 horse racing season in Spokane, the director of racing at Playfair Race Course said Monday.

Ted Martin said the refusal by Thurston County Superior Court Judge Paula Casey to grant a temporary restraining order that would have prevented the state from assigning fall and winter race dates is disappointing.

“It’s disappointing because it means the chances of running a ‘96 meet here is now on the downside of 50 percent,” Martin said.

But Martin said a Monday meeting with horsemen did not result in a decision to give up hope of running through the fall and into winter “to keep these horsemen going out here.”

About 250 thoroughbreds remain on Playfair’s grounds, Martin said, even though owners and trainers are relocating to other tracks, including Portland Meadows, which opened over the weekend.

Martin said they and others would return should the Washington Horse Racing Commission authorize race dates here.

Both Playfair’s owner and the current lessee of the track have declined to run a race meet. The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s request for a license to assume operations has been turned down by the commission.

Legal appeals will continue, Martin said, “but I’d like to try a personal approach with the commission as well. I want to contact the commissioners personally and see what we can do together to get this thing off the ground.”

, DataTimes