Public Meeting At Playfair Horse Racing Commission To Hear Comment On Tribe’s Bid

The Washington Horse Racing Commission will take public comment in Spokane concerning the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s bid to take over Playfair Race Course.

The hearing is July 23 at Playfair.

The Tribe is asking for a revised season - 92 racing days, from Sept. 25 through March 30, at the Spokane track. Playfair initially sought 60 days, assuming Yakima Meadows wanted winter dates.

The commission, however, has yet to receive a dates request from Yakima. Phil Ziegler, president of New Playfair Park, Inc., said the Spokane track hopes to fill the void.

“We see our traditional season as 60 days,” Ziegler said.

“If Yakima asks for dates, we would be willing to go back closer to 60 this year, but so far nobody has heard from Yakima.”

The Spokane meeting, tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m., could be followed by a ruling on the Tribe’s request to run Playfair, commissioner Jim Seabeck of Spokane said.

By a 2-1 vote Tuesday in Auburn, the racing commission agreed to hear public testimony here. Seabeck asked for a decision on the Muckelshoot application, but was overruled by Robert Plut and commission chair Barbara Shinpoch.

Seabeck and Plut then voted to meet in Spokane over the objection of Shinpoch, who said the application received on July 1 requires additional time to consider.

Seabeck on Wednesday said the state’s previous backgrounding on the Tribe is sufficient and the matter should be brought to a head.

“I just hope the other two commissioners will be in line to make a decision one way or another (on the 23rd),” Seabeck said.

Seabeck said the continued absence of three key simulcasting sites - Spokane, Yakima and the Muckleshoot casino in Auburn - in the state’s off-track betting lineup is being felt.

“Not having Playfair, Yakima and the casino (carrying Emerald Downs races) has cost the state’s horsemen $70,000 already,” Seabeck charged. “It has cost the racing commission $28,000 (the commission’s share of the parimutuel wagering handle that would have been generated at those three sites).

“It’s cost Emerald Downs at least $55,000,” Seabeck added. “Those numbers are significant.”

Ziegler said the tribal council hopes to resume off-track operations in Auburn in upcoming weeks.

Officials at the three sites have refused to accept a cut in their share of the parimutuel wagering handle.

, DataTimes