Area Horsemen Haven’T Given Up Despite Setback, Playfair Group Likes Odds Of Meeting Conditions For Racing

Inland Northwest horsemen still hope to revive racing at Playfair Race Course.

Although time is critical, work continues on meeting the conditions set down by the state racing commission that stand between a Spokane group of thoroughbred owners and trainers and a license to operate the 64-year-old racing facility.

A request to re-consider some of the conditions of the commission’s order was denied last week, but Lilac City Racing Association spokesman Ross Yearout said Wednesday that odds remain favorable.

Horsemen want a license to operate a 43-day season starting in late August.

One of the outstanding issues are terms of a sub-lease agreement between Lilac City and the Muckleshoot Tribe. The tribe holds the lease on the Playfair property.

The commission wants the agreement to read that horsemen will have exclusive use of the property during the racing season.

None of the commission’s stipulations are insurmountable, Yearout said.

A safety inspection team was here on Monday and although its findings have yet to be announced, “We feel we accomplished everything they (the commission) asked for,” Yearout said.

“We’re getting there but it’s slow,” he added.

Owners and trainers wanted to have their horses in training at Playfair by now.

Until the license is granted, Playfair will remain closed.

“We have to get something going by the end of this week,” Yearout said. “We haven’t deviated form the plan. Our investors have been out here, pulling weeds. We haven’t quit.”