Playfair Loses Race To Yakima Meadows

One of the two richest races of the season at Playfair Race Course, the $25,000-added Playfair Futurity, has been canceled and moved to Yakima.

The race was scheduled for Sunday. It has been set back to Nov. 23 at Yakima Meadows, Ralph Vacca of the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association said Tuesday.

Funding of the race is a joint venture with the track and the Northwest Race Series, which generates income through nominating fees. The WTBA collects and disburses purse money for the 12-race series.

Playfair management had initially agreed to put up $10,000. Playfair indicated last Wednesday that it would not meet that commitment, Vacca said.

Playfair is closed on Tuesdays. Chief Executive Officer Don Johnson, general manager Kim Rich or racing director Ted Martin were not available for comment. A call to Mike Odom of the horsmen’s bargaining unit, OPHRN, was not returned Tuesday.

Wagering at the Spokane track has fallen short of projections. Purses are funded by wagering. The betting handle is not sufficient to support the original purse structure.

“It’s kind of a tough deal,” said trainer Tim McCanna, who had two horses pointed for the futurity. “I’m sorry we won’t have the opportunity to run in Spokane, but at least they salvaged the race.”

Originally scheduled to be run at a mile, the futurity will go as a 6-furlong sprint. Yakima Meadows manager of racing Billy Aliment agreed to put up $10,000 so the race will be run under the same $25,000-added conditions, Vacca said.

The Northwest Racing Series committee offered to lower contributions to the futurity purse for both sides in an effort to keep the race in Spokane, Vacca said.

“We said if Playfair would put up $5,000, the Series committee would put up $10,000 and the race could go as a $15,000-added event,” Vacca said. Playfair declined that option, he said.

Yakima Meadows opens on Nov. 21, four days after Playfair’s scheduled getaway day.

, DataTimes