Commission Speaks With Silence Emotional Hearing On Playfair’s Future Leads To Another Hearing

The Washington Horse Racing Commission heard more than four hours of public testimony Tuesday on the future of Playfair Race Course, then did exactly what it promised it would do at the outset:

Nothing. Representatives of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe had hoped for a favorable ruling on its application for a license to operate the Spokane track.

Instead, commission chair Barbara Shinpoch of Renton scheduled an “evidentiary hearing” Aug. 6 in the Seattle area at a time to be announced.

That left a crowd of nearly 500 horse owners, trainers, riders and fans at the Paddock Room at Playfair confused and frustrated. Their statements - often contentious, occasionally poignant - and Shinpoch’s reactions to them created different impressions.

Sonny Bargala of the Muckleshoot Tribal Council sounded an optimistic note, announcing after the meeting that New Playfair Park, Inc. would begin upgrading the racing surface immediately, to include installation of a costly safety rail.

“New Playfair Park, Inc., will be getting a hold of (Richard) Fontana (developer of the Fontana Safety Rail),” Bargala said. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done before the first race can be run.

“There’s nothing in the background of the tribal government that would prohibit it from getting a license. So in anticipation of getting approval from the commission, we’re going to start construction on the improvements at Playfair Park.”

The announcement was applauded by the overwhelming majority who spoke in favor of the Tribe’s bid to assume operations at Playfair.

Opposition was voiced by Ralph Vacca, general manager of the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and Carl Baze, head of the Washington Division of the Horse men’s Benevolent & Protective Association. Spokane horsemen have broken with the Washington HBPA and have formed a representative group.

The Muckleshoots operate a popular gambling casino in Auburn, 8 miles from the country’s newest race track, Emerald Downs. Baze said gaming interests conflict with racing interests.

Sen. Jim West (R-Spokane), a non-voting member of the commission, spoke in favor of the Tribe’s plans to absorb nearly $500,000 in losses in the ‘96-97 season in anticipation of turning the facility into a profitable venture over the next five years.

But West didn’t share Bargala’s postmeeting optimism.

“I was caught off-guard,” West said after the exhaustive session. “I didn’t realize that they had scheduled an Aug. 6 meeting. I don’t know why they’re doing that. The objections I heard from the representatives of the breeders and horsemen’s groups were pretty unsubstantial - more of a bias than anything else.

“The bottom line is she (Shinpoch) will mouth the sentiment that she wants live racing here, but I’ve concluded she really doesn’t.”

If the chair doesn’t want the Muckleshoot deal to go through, then hopes of horse people here for an on-site racing season in Spokane lie with the votes of the two other commissioners - Jim Seabeck of Spokane and Robert Plut of Seattle.

Commissioners tend to vote 2-1 with Seabeck in the minority.

Tuesday’s testimony gave horse people the opportunity to put a human side to the issue.

Mutuels clerk Dianne Henry said she’s an 8-year employee of Playfair and a mother of two who’s now on unemployment. “Approve the license so we can have our jobs back,” she said. “Pass this so we can get back to work.”

Ed McManus said he’s a Spokane feed dealer with 15,000 bales of straw and nearly 300 tons of hay “with nowhere to go but here.

“I won’t be reimbursed unless this track opens,” McManus said.

Patty Durfee said her son trains at Emerald Downs but her parents (Mr. and Mrs. Bill Rima) are 84 and 90 years old, respectively, and still active as Playfair trainers.

“They don’t have time for any more postponements,” Durfee said. “The thought that this track will open again is keeping them alive.”

Playfair is “more than a race track to many of us,” Durfee added. “It’s a home.”

Darlene Brown told the commission she has owned, bred and trained horses and recently worked as an exercise rider.

“I went to California to ride,” she said. “I’ve broken up my family to work. You’ve been stringing us along. We can’t do this anymore.”

Kim Wright, who with her husband Dale is a leading trainer at Playfair, described this region’s horsemen as “very desperate.”

Spokane city councilman Jeff Colliton said if the commission fails to approve the Tribe’s request, “a part of Spokane history will die.”

Councilwoman Roberta Greene urged a “quick turnaround with your answer.”

Shinpoch said the commission will “go by the rulebook” by following this initial hearing with the evidentiary hearing in Seattle in two weeks.

Formal application wasn’t handed over to the commission until July 3.

Los Angeles attorney Jerry Levine said the Tribe intends to turn Playfair into a track that “others in the country will envy.”

The Muckleshoots will invest heavily to reach that goal, said the Tribe’s casino controller, Eric Durban. That includes installation of hot water and heat in the barns, improvements in the grandstands, extensive work on the racing surface and renewed promotions.

The Tribe wants 60 days of racing - 43 with statewide satelliting. With commission approval New Playfair Park would expand the season to 92 days should Yakima Meadows fail to apply for racing dates. The Spokane season would extend from Sept. 25 (or 27) through March.

“Where can we get better support?” said Bruce Wagar, Playfair’s leading trainer last season. “All we need is approval. Throw out the politics and look at us as a community of horsemen.”

As a licensed operator the Tribe would be legally bound to follow regulations set by the racing commission, Levine said.

Vacca said the commission should do nothing that might negatively affect the wagering handle at Emerald Downs, citing the tremendous impact the new track will have on the breeding and racing industry.

That brought heated reaction from Spokane’s Tom Blaine, who reminded the commission that the state “doesn’t end at Snoqualmie Pass.”

As for the next round of talks West said, “You have to listen to people’s concerns but you shouldn’t put them (the Tribe) through another drill for no good reason.”

The current leasee, Spokane businessman Stan Horton, has declined to run a race meet at Playfair in ‘96. The track is owned by Spokane businessman Jack Pring.

, DataTimes