Playfair May Go To Tribe Muckleshoots Among Groups Interested In Leasing Track

Spokane horse racing - all but given up for dead, at least in 1996 - may get a new lease on life.

At least three groups have expressed interest in taking over the lease of Playfair Race Course. Two have met with Jack Pring, the Spokane Valley car dealer whose family owns the track.

A source from one group said he expects an announcement regarding Playfair’s future at today’s meeting of the Washington Horse Racing Commission in Auburn.

Speculation is that the Muckleshoot Indian tribe, which operates the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn, will make public its interest in pursuing an agreement that would lead to assuming operations at Playfair.

Representatives of the tribe and the commission met Wednesday.

An attorney representing the Muckleshoots and the head of the casino’s off-track betting operation were in Spokane on Tuesday.

A group headed by former Playfair official Ross Yearout has expressed interest in the track, currently leased to Stan Horton.

Horton, whose lease expires in February, confirmed Wednesday that he’s encouraged by the interest, but added,”There are a lot of hurdles to clear yet.”

A thoroughbred racing season has been held in Spokane annually since 1943. The sport was suspended for two years during World War II. Playfair’s first season was 1935. The grandstand and the track date to 1901.

Race dates this year are tight because of the later-than-anticipated June 20 opening of Emerald Downs in Auburn.

That’s why Horton has declined to run a ‘96 meet. General manager Dan Hillyard has said it makes more financial sense to settle the lease than to run.

Hillyard had no comment on the developments.

Pring wouldn’t say which group had the stronger presentation.

“One thing I can tell you.” he said. “We haven’t put the place up for sale. Our hope is to keep horse racing alive, including in 1996.”

, DataTimes