TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – For the second straight year, Pima County has canceled all the horse racing dates at Rillito Park.
The 2024 season was called off due to financial issues but the 2025 dates were canceled because of an issue created by the racing commission.
The county issued a “request for proposal” to find a new operator for the track but the process was allegedly contaminated by the racing commission, prompting the county to put a halt to the races.
The county felt it did not have enough time to issue another RFP and be fair to those who might choose to bid.
“Unfortunately, this time we couldn’t ensure the full and open transparency and integrity of the process, so that’s why we have to cancel it,” said Victor Pereira, the Pima County Parks Director. “Our intent is to go back out.”
In the meantime, it will give the county time to do a thorough inspection of the track to see if it can be brought up to new safety standards.
But that adds a second unknown to the equation — how much will the upgrades cost?
“It will just be dependent on how much the final bill is after they come down and determine what needs to be fixed or replaced or improved,” Pereira said.
Even with the question marks about a new operator and new safety improvements, the county said horse racing in the future is still on the table.
“We are committed to ensuring that we have horse racing here at Rillito for decades to come,” he said.
But that’s a commitment that can only be fulfilled if the county finds a new operator who is willing to take over operations and all the costs that go with it.
The county has some funding but whether it’s enough, is way too early to tell.
Rillito Park is a small track with a small profit margin, which is one reason past operators have pulled out.
Whether the county can find the right person again is a matter of commitment.
“If they’re serious about inviting someone in to take over the track, they’ve got to walk the walk, to really make it for someone to come in and know the track is race ready,” said Jaye Wells of the Rillito Park Foundation, which operated the track for 10 years.
Rillito Park has been the home to quarter horse racing for 80 years, it’s where the photo finish was first used and it’s part of the lore and culture of Tucson’s western tradition.
But organizers have struggled for years to keep it open.
The county has threatened several times to shut it down but it always somehow survives.
“One of our avid fans said we’re the little track that could,” Wells said.
But even with the county’s commitment that horse racing will be alive and well at Rillito for years to come, there are too many unknowns that could threaten its decades-long run.
But there is optimism.
“We’re the envy of every track in the country for our daily crowd,” Wells said. “So it’s a special little thing and I have to believe there’s someone out there interested in doing it.”
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Publish date : 2024-07-24 03:17:00
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