Playfair Otb Back In Business Temporary Restraining Order Makes Derby Betting Available

Playfair Race Course is back on track this morning, in time for one of thoroughbred racing’s two biggest events.

Racing fans can watch and wager on the Kentucky Derby today at the Spokane track after a Thurston County Superior Court judge ruled in Playfair’s favor.

Judge Paula Casey issued a temporary restraining order Friday, lifting a state racing commission ruling that had halted simulcast wagering at Playfair.

The commission stopped off-track betting Thursday after the existing Playfair license holder - Spokane businessman Stan Horton and his partners - completed a transfer of stock in Playfair Racing Inc., to the Muckelshoot Tribal Horse Racing Corporation.

The three-member state commission rejected a previous application by the Tribe for a license to operate Playfair.

The commission’s opinion is that with Horton out of the picture there is no approved licensee at the Spokane track.

The chief operating officer at Playfair, Don Johnson, repeated on Friday his hope that the commission will approve the tribe’s latest request for a license. That application was submitted in Olympia Wednesday.

Playfair’s immediate future is expected to be the topic of a racing commission meeting Tuesday at the Sea-Tac Holiday Inn.

In any event, Playfair will open at 8 a.m. today and carry the full card of 10 races at Churchill Downs, site of the Kentucky Derby, plus racing from other major tracks around the country.

The track will be open as usual on Sunday, Johnson said. Mondays and Tuesdays are dark.

Casey’s ruling restrains and enjoins the commission from “prohibiting Playfair Racing Inc., from conducting parimutuel horse racing operations, including off-track simulcast wagering,” in Spokane, at least until the commission provides a hearing for the basis of such revocation (of the license).

“The judge was very cognizant that today is a big day in horse racing,” said Playfair attorney Steve Johnson.

Beyond this weekend the ruling seems to indicate that off-track operations at Playfair will continue at least through May 13.

Johnson said the commission is due back in Judge Casey’s court that morning to show cause, if any, why the temporary order should not be extended.

Still, the license, or the lack of one, to operate Playfair “remains an issue,” the commission’s executive secretary said Friday.

“It’s great that Spokane and its horsemen can benefit from having the Kentucky Derby,” Bruce Batson said by phone from Olympia. “The commission is cognizant of that. The commission also felt that this is the way it had to meet its obligation to supervise the industry.”

A slice of off-track betting revenue at Playfair goes to the local horsemen’s purse fund.

A closure on Derby day would cost Spokane horse people more than $10,000 in purse money, Johnson said.

Johnson has asked the commission for a 43-day on-site meet in late summer and fall.

The license issue will be resolved before live racing can be approved.