Auburn Track Delay Could Cost Playfair

The Washington Horse Racing Commission was in Spokane Tuesday night to search for ways to reverse the business decline at Playfair Race Course.

But as ideas were aired and frustrations vented at the meeting with about 400 horse owners, trainers and fans, a new and potentially serious problem surfaced.

Construction at the new track in Auburn is reportedly behind schedule, a development that could delay the opening of the King County facility a month or more.

Developers of the new track are contractually assured of 125 racing days, racing commission chair Barbara Shinpoch said.

If construction at the Auburn site runs late, as feared, the track’s inaugural season would run into October or beyond.

That’s prime time at Playfair.

In assigning racing dates to the state’s three major racing associations, the commission grants a monopoly on statewide off-track betting. Emerald Racing Association ran in Yakima from April through Labor Day with state-wide off-track betting. Playfair is a week into its 50-day season that runs through Nov. 27 with state-wide simulcasting each racing day.

Left to be resolved is how the Auburn track, if it opens later than projected, will run 125 days without cutting into Playfair’s already slim slice of the state’s off-track betting action.

Shinpoch was asked if Playfair would be “swept back up into the calendar” if the opening of the new track is delayed.

The answer wasn’t very promising.

“We believe we’re contractually obligated to give the new track 125 racing days their first season,” Shinpoch said. “At this point, we’re hoping that the track opens on April 6 and gets its 125 days.

“I believe we’d wind up in court if we did any less,” she added. “As to the speculation about whether the track will open on time, we don’t know and probably aren’t going to know until mid-December. We’ll keep in mind equity for everybody, (but) we may be in a position where we can’t do anything about a 125-day season (in Auburn). I don’t know.”

One of the commission’s three members, Jim Seabeck of Spokane, suggested that Auburn interests be held to the dates already outlined.

“The date that was set was April 6,” Seabeck said. “If we deviate from that and get into dates that Playfair has in September and October, you might just as well close Playfair up.”

The commission has been directed by the state legislature to examine ways to avoid just that. Tuesday night’s meeting at the Paddock Lounge was a first step in searching out ways to keep the Spokane track in business.

Spokane horseman Tom Blaine suggested that the legislature divert some of the money it spends on advertising the state lottery into marketing horse racing.

Maury Ray, a former Spokane horse owner, urged the commission to assume more of a leadership role.

“Don’t say the legislature doesn’t allow it,” Ray said. “It might be a fact that at this point the legislature doesn’t allow something, but if you think it’s a good idea, take it to the legislature and get the law changed.”

Playfair general manager Dan Hillyard urged the commission to work to change existing state guidelines on simulcast wagering that prohibit tracks in Washington from offering full programs from tracks outside the state.

, DataTimes