Posted: July 14, 2009 07:23 PM EDT

Boise, Idaho -- Les Bois racetrack is under new management and has been renamed to Idaho Downs.

The contracts were signed this morning, so now Idaho Entertainment LLC has officially taken over the property, which means horse racing could be back on at the racetrack as early as this summer.

"We see in this facility quite an opportunity in that there is a historical basis for the horses. There's a fan base that wants racing here. And we see that there's a breading industry that can support a lively and long-term plan for horse racing in the community," said Eric Spector, Idaho Entertainment.

The company is a joint venture between California-based Oneida Capital and Plainfield Racing, which is headquartered in Connecticut.

Under the terms of the contract, Idaho Entertainment will lease the property from Ada County for $75,000 a year.

Also the county will make an additional one-half of one-percent of the track's revenue any time the track takes in at least $12 million.

Posted: 6/18/2009

No timetable has been set to make a decision about a new operator.

Two groups interested in operating live and simulcast horse racing at Les Bois Park have submitted proposals to lease the facility to the Ada County commissioners.

The Greene Group, which operates a simulcast facility in Post Falls, submitted its second bid for the race track located at Expo Idaho in Garden City. The group's initial proposal was rejected by the county in April.

The county invited the group to bid again after the two parties discussed what equipment and responsibilities were included in the lease.

"We submitted our lease (proposal) but we have not heard back from them," said Eric Wilson, the director of compliance for the Greene Group. "We're just waiting on them."

Ada County spokesman Rich Wright said the county won't divulge details of any negotiations while they were still ongoing.

The second group that submitted a proposal is Oneida Capital LLC, a California-based company that operates off-track betting facilities and race tracks in Montana, New York and Wyoming.

T. Patrick Stubbs, a spokesman for Oneida Capital, said the group's proposal was sent Wednesday morning. Wright said the commissioners hadn't seen the proposal as of the close of business Wednesday because the document must be processed by the county's legal department first.

"We have submitted something and we're very excited about it," Stubbs said. "We think we can do a lot of fun things there. We absolutely love the facility. Hopefully, we'll be hearing back from the county real soon."

Wright said no timetable has been set to make a decision about Les Bois Park, which means further delays of the live horse racing season, which was scheduled to begin May 1.

The lease for the facility became available when former operator Capitol Racing opted out of its five-year deal, citing losses of more than $1 million in each of the three years it ran the track. The county then accepted proposals from new operators but didn't find a suitable deal, setting up this second round of bids.

Some stakes races planned for Les Bois have been moved because of the uncertainty surrounding the largest race track in Idaho.

The Northwest Challenge Series has moved its four races scheduled to Wyoming Downs. The Bitterroot Futurity already had plans to move to Pocatello Downs.

It's a repeat of 2005, which was the only time a full racing season hasn't been run at Les Bois Park since it opened in the 1970s.

"We waited as long as we could, but to be fair, we thought we better do it," said Duayne Didericksen, a longtime fixture at Les Bois who is serving as a consultant and general manager at Wyoming Downs this summer.

The 7Ý-furlong track is located in Evanston, Wyo., close to the Utah border. It's about 90 miles from Bear Lake in Idaho. The track is having an abbreviated eight-day racing season that starts Saturday and ends July 19.

The challenge series quarter horse races that were scheduled for Les Bois will be run July 3, 4 and 18.

Didericksen, who has been everything from a horse trainer, owner, racing secretary, director of racing and general manager at Les Bois, said the Wyoming facility has been getting calls about stall rentals from Idaho horsemen and hopes many of them will race in Evanston until the Les Bois situation is resolved.

"Hopefully something will happen there soon," Didericksen said.

Posted: 6/11/09

Four Bank of America Racing Challenge 2009 Northwest regional finals – originally scheduled to run at Les Bois Park in Boise, Idaho – have been moved to Wyoming Downs in Evanston, Wyoming.

The new dates for trials and finals at Wyoming Downs are as follows:

DIVISION TRIALS FINAL
Bank of America Northwest Racing Challenge July 3 July 18
Bayer Legend Northwest Derby Challenge July 3 July 18
John Deere Northwest Juvenile Challenge July 4 July 18
Red Cell Northwest Distance Challenge N/A July 18

With the chances of a 2009 meet at Les Bois Park all but gone, Racing Challenge management made the move this week to ensure the Northwest region would run its full complement of races.

AQHA Racing Challenge Director Darrell R. Hare said, “Even though we are disappointed with the situation at Les Bois Park, we remain optimistic that this problem will be resolved soon and horse racing and the Challenge will return to Boise in 2010.”

Posted: April 22, 2009

The Ada County commissioners rejected proposals from a local businessman and an Alabama company to run the racetrack, saying they were not adequate to save a season scheduled to start in less than two weeks.

"It was certainly our hope to get somebody into Les Bois Park and get horse racing going for the year," Commissioner Sharon Ullman said at Tuesday's public meeting in Downtown Boise. "Neither proposal has made it financially acceptable to lease Ada County's multimillion-dollar facility."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Commissioner Fred Tilman said a summer season is unlikely.

"I want to make it very plain that with the motion we are making it does not appear at this time that there will be live racing, particularly this year," he said. "It would be my advice to the horse industry that it doesn't appear that there will be live racing. But that, of course, is not our decision. That's up to the people in the industry."

WHO WAS REJECTED?

Alabama-Idaho Racing, known as the Greene Group, operates a simulcast center in Post Falls. The group's proposal to operate Les Bois, which has a simulcast facility, included an annual lease payment of $12,000.

Dave Parrie, the owner of Mr. Lucky's Bar and Dave's Autobody on Chinden Boulevard in Garden City, also submitted a proposal under the name Spirit Valley Raceway. Parrie's proposal was for an annual lease payment of $50,000.

The commission said that under the previous lease, with Capitol Racing, the county got the equivalent of $300,000 a year.

Ullman said the county has annual maintenance obligations of $25,000 for the facility.

WAS IT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY?

The commissioners said they also had concerns about both applicants' current and past business operations.

The Greene Group's nonprofit organization, the Greene Idaho Foundation, has been the subject of enforcement action by the Idaho Lottery Commission. County commissioners said the foundation has admitted a violation of state law regarding its bingo operation in Post Falls.

"We have nothing to hide there," said Eric Wilson, a spokesman with the Greene Group. "It's basically a nonprofit, and we've been doing bingo up there since 2001. We're regulated by the Lottery Commission and we respond to their audits and make any changes they feel are necessary. We have no problem with the Lottery Commission at all."

Parrie has been arrested on several misdemeanor charges since 1997, including two DUIs, battery, resisting arrest and domestic violence in the presence of a child, according to Ada County records.

Most of those charges were dismissed or reduced, including one of the DUIs, when Parrie pleaded guilty to lesser charges, according to court records. As an example, the domestic violence charge was resolved when Parrie pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace.

In 2004, based on Parrie's criminal record, Ada County denied a request by Lariat Productions to let Parrie sell beer and wine at Les Bois.

He believes his criminal record shouldn't be an issue.

"It has to do with fighting, drinking and racing," said Parrie, who has raced cars at Meridian Speedway. "I'm the all-American boy. I did that years ago."

ARE THE TWO PARTIES GIVING UP?

"I'm going after it again," Parrie said, adding that the commissioners notified him that he was free to renegotiate a deal.

"What? First you say I can't have it because of my criminal record, but you want me back?'' Parrie said. "So if I throw more money at them, my criminal record goes away?''

He said he's meeting with the commissioners Friday.

"I'm basically going to go to the commissioners and I'm going to say, 'What do you got to have?' "

Representatives from the Greene Group are meeting with the county's legal staff Thursday.

"Things are still moving along, and I'm not sure where they're going to end up," Wilson said. "Hopefully, it will work out, but a lot of things have to come together."

WILL HORSE OWNERS STICK AROUND?

Tim Elison, a member of the board of directors of the Idaho Horsemen Benevolent and Protective Association, said the migration of horses to out-of-state tracks has started.

"We would recommend to our membership to get your horses where they can race," Elison said, "because their livelihoods are at stake. And it ain't going to happen here."

Elison said he is taking his 10 horses out of state.

"I've got enough invested in my horses that I can't turn them out to pasture and watch them,'' he said.

WOULD A LOST SEASON AFFECT THE ECONOMY?

"It's a major economic factor," said Dennis Jackson, director of the Idaho Racing Commission. "It starts all the way from the veterinarians and their assistants to the people who clean out the stalls and exercise the animals."

Jackson said about $15 million was wagered at Les Bois last season - $5 million on live racing and $10 million on simulcast wagering.

Still, Jackson said the sport is suffering. "Horse racing is in some jeopardy," he said.

CAN A TENANT SUCCEED AT LES BOIS?

"Right now, without some changes and modifications as it is currently set, it is not possible to be viable," said Steve Bieri, owner of Capitol Racing.

He pointed to a state law that mandates 46 days of live racing for a track to be eligible to run simulcast wagering.

"I found it very odd, because in other states they were reducing purses," he said. "They were reducing the number of races in a day, and they were reducing the number of days of racing. É But in Idaho the number of days is statutorily mandated. It's easy to do more, but when you have a dump in the market like we do now, it's hard when you can't go below."

Jackson is optimistic.

"I don't believe that we've seen the last horse race at Les Bois," he said. "Even if we lose both simulcast and live racing, hopefully we can put something together for next year."

WHERE ELSE CAN YOU SEE RACING IN IDAHO?

There isn't a full season anywhere else in the state, but you can catch races at seven county fair sites, including Sunday in Emmett.

CAN YOU STILL BET ON THE KENTUCKY DERBY?

The Super Bowl of horse racing is May 2. Traditionally, large season-opening crowds have gathered at Les Bois to place bets on the Derby.

The track's simulcast facility is closed, with no plans to open.

"It's going to be pretty darn hard," Jackson said. "Standing here in Boise, Idaho, it's going to be pretty hard to do it legally."

WHAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE?

Les Bois didn't have a live season in 2005 because of legal issues between the county and previous lease operator Lariat Productions. California-based Capitol Racing ran the track the past three years, but earlier this year walked away from the final two years of its lease, citing financial concerns.

Ada County has since conducted a national search for a new operator.

Posted: April 14, 2009

Ada County Commissioners voted Tuesday morning to wait another week before making a decision about a lease that would give one of two bidders the right to operate live and simulcast horse racing at Les Bois Park.

The reason for the delay is so the county can do additional background checks on the two parties who submitted bids — Dave Parrie, who owns Mr. Lucky's Bar on Chinden Blvd., and Alabama/Idaho Inc. (the Greene Group), an Alabama-based company which operates a simulcast facility in Post Falls.

"Although it was my hope that we could get this dealt with rapidly so that the horse owners could have an answer and a resolution and know what to do, unfortunately this task, as far as doing our due diligence, has become much more complex than we expected," County Commissioner Sharon Ullman said.

The commissioners will discuss the matter at next Tuesday's public meeting.

Posted: April 08, 2009

Ada County Commisioners unveil two proposals to lease the track at Expo Idaho, but "every day of a delay creates more concerns."

Looking for a sure bet?

Don't count on Les Bois Park to open its live horse racing season during its traditional date - Kentucky Derby week. And, this year, you might not be able to bet on the Derby at all.

The Ada County Commissioners unveiled two proposals to lease the race track Tuesday, and the three-member board could make a decision next week on whether to award the lease to operate live and simulcast racing at the facility located at Expo Idaho.

There's also a chance the commissioners will wait at least another week as it reviews the proposals and performs due diligence and background checks.

"Every day of a delay creates more concerns," said Dennis Jackson, the executive director of the Idaho Racing Commission. "The first Saturday in May for live racing is a long shot. I just don't know how anybody could get that done."

Jackson remains optimistic that a live meet will happen this summer. And if the lease is awarded in the next two weeks, Jackson said there "is a chance" that simulcast wagering on the May 2 Kentucky Derby will be available at Les Bois.

Previous lease holder Capitol Racing had been simulcasting at Les Bois, but shut down March 31. Capitol also announced earlier this year that it was forgoing the final two years of its five-year lease to operate live racing at the track, citing financial concerns.

Ada County announced the two bidders for the park at its public meeting Tuesday. They are:

® Alabama-Idaho Racing, known as the Greene Group, an Alabama-based company that operates a horse and greyhound simulcast center in Post Falls.

® Dave Parrie, the owner of Mr. Lucky's Bar on Chinden Boulevard, who submitted his bid under the name Spirit Valley Raceway.

Posted: March 25, 2009

Bids to lease the horse-racing park will be unveiled April 7. This year's season is likely to get off to a late start.

The status of live and simulcast horse racing at Les Bois Park remains uncertain, but here are a few things that are known:

Three groups interested in leasing the track attended a pre-proposal meeting Thursday, which was mandatory for anyone wanting to submit a bid.

Ada County is accepting bids through April 6 and will make them public at an April 7 hearing at the county courthouse on Front Street in Boise.

Two of the three groups have indicated they will submit bids. They are Simulcast Services LLC, known as the Greene Group, an Alabama-based company that operates a horse and greyhound simulcast center in Post Falls. The other is Dave Parrie, the owner of Mr. Lucky's bar on Chinden Boulevard. He'll submit a bid under the name Spirit Valley Raceway.

"What I see about horse racing is it's going dead and if somebody doesn't pick it up it's going to be gone forever," Parrie said. "I think it's a viable source of income around here. I don't know the particulars of horse racing, but I do know people who know how to run it."

The third group, Les Bois Partners, has decided not to bid because of "unrealistic time constraints," said Terry Brodt, who attended the mandatory meeting as a representative of the local group.

The Idaho Racing Commission plans to contact the bidders to expedite the licensing process to help the racing season start as soon as possible. Traditionally, live racing at Les Bois starts the first weekend in May to coincide with the Kentucky Derby.

IRC executive director Dennis Jackson said that's a long shot this season.

"It will be pretty darn difficult," he said.

But Jackson remains optimistic that a live racing season will happen. The season was put in limbo in late January when previous lease owner and operator Capitol Racing announced that it would not run a live meet this summer.

Capitol, which had two seasons remaining on its five-year contract, cited falling revenues and a weakening economy.

Ada County has been soliciting bids since then.

"I really believe in my gut that we're going to race here - I know we are," Jackson said. "Clearly, there are people who want (to operate) the simulcast, but you can't simulcast without the live meet."

That's good news to people like Ken Elison, who is the new president of the Idaho Horsemen's Benevolence & Protective Association, an organization that protects the rights of horses, trainers and owners.

Elison has been inundated with calls from anxious horse owners and trainers about the status of Les Bois Park, which is located on the Expo Idaho fairgrounds.

"My phone doesn't quit ringing," Elison said. "I get calls every day from Phoenix, Portland and all over, and I really can't give anyone a definite answer until the contract is awarded."

Elison said the message he's getting from horsemen is the sooner they know, the better.

"I'm afraid we've lost some horses because it has been dragging out," Elison said. "There's a lot of horsemen applying for stalls in other places."

Jackson said the key to the season will be how quickly the country picks a winning bid and how long it takes the government agency to do its due diligence about the winning bidder.

A potential new lease would be for two seasons and include use of the county's liquor license that goes with the facility.

"They've told me what they're interested in is finding a good tenant," Jackson said. "I don't know how long it will take them to do that."

If the season does happen, state statute said there must be 46 racing days. That means the season could extend into September, Jackson said.

Posted: February 18, 2009

Ada County commissioners have voted unanimously to accept Capitol Racing's request to terminate its lease to operate Les Bois Park, the county announced Tuesday.

Capitol has operated live and simulcast horse racing at Les Bois since signing a five-year lease agreement in October 2005.

But the Sacramento-based group announced last month that it was ceasing operations at the county-owned facility, citing falling revenues and a weakening economy. The lease was scheduled to expire after the live summer season in 2010.

County commissioners have instructed staff to begin the process of developing a "request for proposal'' to identify qualified individuals and companies interested in leasing the facility.

The track's traditional opening for live horse racing is the first week of May.

Posted: October 29, 2008

The operator of Les Bois Park and Gov. Butch Otter are vying to make Idaho the first state in the nation to allow pari-mutuel betting on "virtual" horse racing.

They say revenue from computer-generated, animated races simulcast around the country would revive a sagging industry by boosting purses for flesh-and-blood horses.

But backers suffered a setback Tuesday when key legislators voted to object to an Otter-backed rule allowing the new brand of gambling. Five of six members of two special subcommittees said the issue should be fully vetted by the 2009 Legislature.

"This whole topic deserves more consideration and should come directly from the Legislature," said Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, one of the lawmakers in a two-hour hearing.

Their action, however, is not binding. It only informs the Idaho Racing Commission that two subcommittees of the State Affairs committees object. Only the full Legislature, on a vote of both the House and Senate, can reject a rule proposed by the administration. Supporters of virtual racing have been pouring money to candidates on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The Racing Commission's temporary rule takes effect Nov. 17. If not withdrawn, the first betting could begin that day "or soon thereafter," said Stephen Bieri, owner of Capitol Racing, which operates Les Bois Park in Garden City.

David Hensley, Otter's attorney, said the governor wants to help horsemen. "When virtual racing was presented to the governor's office, we saw tremendous potential for the horse racing industry in Idaho," he said.

Hensley said Otter and his three racing commissioners will consider lawmakers' concerns. "It's clear there are questions about this innovative process."

But Hensley would not say whether Otter might ask the Racing Commission to withdraw the rule. The panel next meets Nov. 12.

Racing commissioner Mike Bosen attended the hearing and said he wants virtual racing implemented before lawmakers convene in January. "This was a big disappointment to me," he said. "I'm hoping they'll move ahead anyway."

Bieri said he owns 30 percent of the company that designed virtual racing software that features a stable of 5,000 horses with different speeds, endurance and other traits. Without virtual racing revenue, Bieri said, he'll have to cut already shrinking purses. With it, he said, winnings for horsemen could increase between several hundred and several thousand dollars a race.

"This is no more meant to replace live racing than the man in the moon," Bieri told legislators. "This is meant to supplement live racing. ... If it doesn't come here, it will go to another state."

Idaho's four horse racing groups back Bieri's plan. "We're bringing the (rules) up to the 21st century," said Tawnja Elison of the Idaho Thoroughbred Association. Also on board are the Idaho Quarter Horse Association, Idaho Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and the Eastern Idaho Horsemen's Association.

Bieri, who first raised the proposal with the Racing Commission late last year, told lawmakers Tuesday he promised horsemen they would receive about 9 percent of virtual racing revenues. That's the same cut they get from live contests and substantially more than their 3.7 percent share from simulcasts.

Simulcasting operates year-round at Les Bois. Statewide, simulcasting betting totaled $17.5 million in 2007. Betting on live racing was $3.2 million. Live races were held on 46 days at Les Bois Park and 33 days at eight other sites on the "fair circuit."

Bryan Fischer of the Idaho Values Alliance told lawmakers they should resist the attempt to expand gambling on both moral and legal grounds. "This would make Idaho and Boise the Las Vegas of virtual racing," he said.

But the principal organized opposition to the Les Bois plan came from Coeur d'Alene Racing, operator of the former greyhound track at Post Falls. Though live dog racing was suspended years ago because of objections from the public, the park offers simulcast betting.

David High, a former deputy attorney general now working for Coeur d'Alene Racing, told lawmakers his client supports virtual racing but believes the change must come with a new law, not by rule. "Their main concern is that it would poison the well and make legislators very angry," said High.

High said he has drafted a bill for Coeur d'Alene Racing, which seeks "broader" openings to virtual racing.

Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, agreed that any proposed changes must be passed by the both Houses and signed by the governor. "If we venture into virtual racing, it should be something we do by statute."

McKenzie said he was concerned that if the rule change is allowed, lawmakers would cede legislative powers to the executive branch. That could include, he said, the Racing Commission allowing any depiction of a virtual competitor, "from any type of animal to rocks rolling down the hill. What's the limit?"

Posted: Sep 14, 2008 11:03 PM EDT

It was a great week-end for horsemen at the Idaho Falls Sandy Downs Stadium. Saturday marked the 2008 Capitol Racing Open.

It was a good weekend for everyone involved, whether you're the trainer who just took first place.

"As horseman we need to thank the community and Capitol Racing for what they're doing," said Utah Trainer, Jay Pitcher. "They're trying to make horse racing better; and give owner's and trainer's the opportunity to run at a little more money a little late in the year. For those of us who do this for a living, it really helps."

An avid horseman, "This is just a great day for racing," said Patron Laura Punkoney. "The day is just gorgeous; the horses are running well and I'm winning a little money."

The kid who took home a winning beat. "I just knew number 4 was gonna win," said little cowboy, Tyrel Rockwood.

Or the investors who made it all happen. "We have horses from Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana and Utah that come here to race," said Alan Horowitz, General Manager for Capitol Racing. "We have jockeys from all the western states that come here to ride the horses, it's a quality racing program."

It was a great day indeed for a growing horse industry in Eastern Idaho. "We opened Saturday with about 1,200 people and $31,000 in wagers. Sunday we had a little over 1,000 people and $27,000 in wagers. That's the makings of trying to build a good program."

And maybe even the beginning of a new partnership with Capitol Racing.

There will be more live racing next weekend, and the 27th, 28th of September. Visit www.sandydownsracing.com for post-time, ticket and program information.

Date Posted: 11/15/2007 10:50:48 AM Last Updated: 11/15/2007 10:50:48 AM

Les Bois Park in Boise, Idaho, has been approved for a 46-day meet in 2008.

The schedule, approved by the Idaho State Racing Commission Nov. 8, begins May 2 and ends Aug. 16, with racing primarily on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

The final two nights of racing will held during the first two nights of the Western Idaho Fair.

“We hope these new dates in our 2008 schedule will enable us to share the fun and excitement of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing with many new fans and fairgoers,” Capitol Racing president and owner Steve Bieri said.

Les Bois Park is open year-round for full-card simulcasts and other events.

Posted: 6/28/06

Joan Duggan, who moved from Southern California to Bellevue, Idaho, to pursue her dream of breeding horses, died earlier this month at St. Johns Health Center in Los Angeles.

Duggan, a member of the Idaho Thoroughbred Association and the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, was 57. She so enjoyed the beauty and open space of Idaho, that she eventually left the nursing profession to devote herself full-time to the horse breeding business, ultimately training and racing Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds in Idaho and California.

Whatadin, a winning five-year-old Din's Dancer gelding bred by Duggan, finished second in a June 20 race at Les Bois Park.

Posted: 5/10/2006 5:47:00 PM

Les Bois Park reopened on May 5 and drew a crowd of 3,500 that wagered $78,747 on the Boise, Idaho, track's eight-race Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred program.

The 2005 meet was cancelled after previous leaseholder Lariat Productions did not make the required payments to Ada County, which owns the facility located at the Expo Idaho Fairgrounds.

Idaho Racing Commission member Oscar Steinley told the Idaho Statesman that he was pleased with what was happening at the track, which is running its first meet under the management of California-based Capitol Racing Inc.

"It's so good for Boise and Idaho to have this track up and running," Steinley said. "Capitol has done a tremendous job and has put a lot of money and effort into it. It's pretty exciting."

Capitol Racing President Steve Bieri, whose group invested more than $1-million to improve the facility that opened in 1970, said he was pleased with the start of the meet.

"We're off to a great start," he said. "We know we'll have another good day on August 5 for the Idaho Cup – it's what we do in between that matters."

Les Bois's 46-day meet runs through August 12.

Posted: 8/15/2005 12:44:00 PM ET

Simulcast wagering has returned to Les Bois Park in Boise, Idaho, for the first time since late 2004 when the state’s racing commission revoked the operating license of former owner Lariat Productions.

Lariat Productions lost its gambling license after failing to make payments to the state and to horse owners. Capitol Racing of Sacramento, California, purchased the property this year and began renovating the track in February.

The track opened for simulcast wagering on August 12. Live racing is planned for August 26-28 during the Western Idaho Fair.

Posted: 4/14/2005 11:57:00 AM ET

Lariat Productions filed a lawsuit against Ada County, Idaho, and Capitol Racing on Wednesday in an ongoing dispute over the operating rights to Les Bois Park.

Ada County, which owns the track and surrounding Western Idaho Fairgrounds, set an April 8 deadline for Lariat to complete a lease transfer agreement with Capitol Racing, which runs harness racing at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California, which would acquire the racing and simulcast licenses and operating rights to the track.

When Lariat missed that deadline, Ada County set a second deadline of noon on Wednesday for Lariat to vacate the facility. Lariat, in turn, filed the lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, Lariat has an outstanding balance on trade payable of $1,285,444, which the company wants Capitol Racing to assume, the Idaho Statesman reports.

The lawsuit also asks the Fourth District Court to determine whether Ada County has the right to cancel its lease with Lariat, which was to run through 2009. Ada County has sought to evict Lariat since December, saying the company has not maintained the facility and has numerous liquor violations.

The legal proceedings further jeopardize the 2005 season at Les Bois, which is scheduled to begin on May 7.

Posted: 2/14/2005 12:54:00 PM ET

California-based Capitol Racing has begun renovating Les Bois Park in anticipation of completing a deal to acquire the lease from Lariat Productions to operate the Idaho racetrack. Ada County commissioners gave Capitol Racing and Lariat Productions a list of repairs that need to be completed before the lease transfer would be approved. Ada County owns Les Bois and the surrounding Western Idaho Fairgrounds.

"I think we’re well on our way of working through that list," Capitol General Manager Alan Horowitz told the Idaho Statesman. "There still are some issues and items on that checklist that remain, but we are working with the fair to get a little more specificity of the repair work. Some of the items were in general terms, and they are going to give us specific locations where work needs to be done so we can attack it vigorously and get it done."

Capitol Racing, which operates Cal Expo harness track in Sacramento, California, has already started work on the Les Bois racing surface for the upcoming meet, which is scheduled to begin on May 7.

Horowitz said he also has been negotiating with Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse horsemen on a simulcast agreement.

"We’ve had several productive meetings," he said. "When your program is going downhill as they portray it in the last couple of years, they’re more likely to be competing for resources. What we’ve tried to do is to indicate that we’re going to grow that pie so all parties’ slice can be bigger. Both breeds are necessary in our vision of growing this program."

Posted: 12/3/2004 5:08:00 PM ET

Ada County in Idaho has filed a complaint seeking eviction of the operators of Les Bois Park. The complaint, filed on Wednesday in 4th District Court, claims Lariat Productions has not met county standards for maintaining the track and its surrounding grounds and has violated state law by selling alcohol to a minor and failing to lock up unsealed liquor bottles.

The county owns the track and surrounding Western Idaho Fairgrounds.

"It has nothing to do with racing," Ada County Commissioner Fred Tilman told the Idaho Statesman. "It’s strictly a landlord-tenant issue. We are not going to let these facilities deteriorate any further."

Lariat has a lease to operate Les Bois through 2009. Lariat owner Lanae Jones declined to comment.

Earlier this year, the Idaho Racing Commission authorized an audit of finances at Les Bois Park amid complaints from owners that they have not received payments for purse earnings at the Boise racetrack or that their checks for payments have bounced.

Arnel Jones of Les Bois, which held racing from May 1 though August 8, disputed the claims that the track is behind in payments.

Posted: 7/23/2004 12:00:00 PM ET

Les Bois Park in Boise will be able to run its remaining 11 days of racing after the Idaho Racing Commission voted on Thursday not to revoke Lariat Productions Inc.’s operational license.

Commission Executive Director Jack Baker had requested the panel revoke Lariat’s license because of debts it owed other tracks, an area casino, and local horsemen, but when Lariat Director Lanae Jones proved that her company had financial backing and had paid off some of its debt, the commission voted to take no action on the license but conduct a full financial audit.

"This doesn’t mean Lariat has some kind of endorsement," Commission Chairman Michael Lineberry told the Idaho Statesman. "We may revisit the issue of financial instability based on the results of that audit."

On Thursday, Lariat gave horsemen $87,451.85 for past due payments, and Jones’s father, John Bootsma of Oregon, testified that he would support Lariat. He told commissioners that his daughter has an Oregon bank account with $500,000 in it.

"I think in any business if you isolate a few issues, you can make the best company look bad—especially in this business," Jones said. "There’s so much money being handled that it’s easy to take things out of context."

Posted: 7/8/2004 11:18:00 AM ET

Lariat Productions’ license to conduct racing at Les Bois Park in Boise is in jeopardy after Idaho Racing Commission Executive Director Jack Baker asked the commission’s board to revoke the license because its holder has a debt of more than $421,000.

Baker filed his complaint with the attorney general’s office, alleging that Lariat owes various tracks more than $100,000 in simulcast fees, $161,182.65 to Coeur d’Alene Indian Casino, and another $160,000 to the horsemen’s association.

"We want all of our licensees taken care of," Baker told the Idaho Statesman. "The financial stability is what we’re trying to achieve."

Lariat officials can speak before the commission on July 22 and commissioners can decide as early as that day whether to revoke Lariat’s license.

"I’m fairly comfortable that the commissioners are satisfied with the documentation I presented them, but I won’t predict the future," said Lanae Jones, who operates Lariat. "Their biggest concern is that the purses are funded and racing stays on track and intact; I think they’ll be satisfied."

Lariat’s bottom line received some help on Wednesday when the track was again allowed to serve alcohol after county commissioners revoked Lariat’s liquor license on May 28 for several violations

The Idaho HBPA and Lariat Productions Inc., owners and operators of Les Bois Park, agreed to a five-year contract in early August.

“We are extremely pleased with the contract extension and the vote of confidence both parties have shown in each other,” said Les Bois Park chief financial officer Lanae Jones. “Les Bois Park and the horseman have never had a five-year agreement. This lays the ground work for improved live racing and capital improvements to the both the backside and front side.”

One area of inspection that has already begun is the racetrack surface.

“Soil samples have been sent out to a specialized lab in Davis, California” Jones continued. “We’ll receive the results back and make any adjustments, if needed, prior to the running of the 2004 season.”

The agreement also opens the door for Les Bois Park to begin simulcasting its live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing to off-track wagering centers throughout North America.

“With sending out our signal to other facilities and generating additional mutuel handle,” Jones explained, “we will be able to enhance our purse schedule that, in turn, will create better racing for the wagering public.”

The $1.7 million dollars paid in purses for the 46-day live 2003 meeting is a record at Les Bois Park.

Also in the cards at Les Bois Park is the possibility of racing under the lights.

“We will be looking into the feasibility of adding lights for night racing” Jones said. “With night racing, we would be able to start later, race when it’s cooler and have a better chance of slotting our export signal to outside simulcast sites.”

Edited from track reports Lariat Productions, owners and operators of Les Bois Park, has signed a record five-year contract with the Idaho HPBA, which represents all breeds in the State.

" We are extremely pleased with the contract extension and the vote of confidence both parties have show in each other," said Les Bois Park chief financial officer Lanae Jones. " Les Bois Park and the horseman have never had a five-year agreement. This lays the ground work for improved live racing and capital improvements to the both the backside and front side."

One area of inspection that has already begun, as les Bois Park moves into its final weekend of live racing, is the racetrack itself.

"Soil samples have been sent out to specialized lab in Davis, California" Jones continued. "We'll receive the results back and make any adjustments, if needed, prior to the running of the 2004 season."

The agreement also opens the door for Les Bois Park to begin simulcasting its "live" Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing to off track wagering centers throughout North America.

"With sending out our signal to other facilities and generating additional mutuel handle," Jones explained, "we will be able to enhance our purse schedule that in turn will create better racing for the wagering public."

The $1.7 million dollars paid in purses for the 46-day live 2003 meeting is a record at Les Bois Park.

Also in the cards at Les Bois Park is the possibility of racing under the lights.

"We will be looking into the feasibility of adding lights for night racing" Jones said. "With night racing we would be able to start later, race when it's cooler and have a better chance of slotting our export signal to outside simulcast sites."

Twelve Idaho Cup Stakes races both Saturday and Sunday highlight closing weekend at Les Bois Park. Also Saturday is a silent auction with over 200 items, benefiting the Marla Loveland Fund.

Copyright © 2003 The Blood-Horse, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Les Bois Park track management finally signed a contract with the Idaho HBPA on April 18. This cleared the way for the live meet this summer. Les Bois Park opened on May 3 for a 46-day meet. After a very contentious negotiation, track management and the Idaho HBPA are looking for opportunities to improve the future of horse racing in Idaho.

A dispute over who should control $485,000 in simulcast handle revenue could lead to the cancellation of Les Bois Park’s 46-day spring meeting, tentatively scheduled to begin on May 3.

The Idaho Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association argued in front of the Idaho Racing Commission on Thursday that it should control the money, which is earmarked for purses at the live meet. Arnell Jones argued that he needs the money upfront so that his Lariat Productions Inc., which operates the track, can pay for expenses throughout the racing season, after which Jones refunds the account to pay the horsemen.

The commission has set a deadline of midnight Friday for the two parties to agree on a contract. Without a contract, there will be no live racing.

"It doesn’t look pretty," Les Bois Racing Secretary Fred Snapp said. "We’ve all got our fingers crossed that people realize this will kill racing in Idaho, and they’ll be able to work something out."

Although the horsemen are eager for the racing season to begin, a compromise does not appear likely. The Idaho HBPA voted 10-0 against a compromise on the simulcast revenue issue. Sam Stephenson, president of the horsemen’s group, told the Idaho Statesman that he was open to compromise, but unsure if other board members could be as flexible.

Jones has said if the track cannot use the money, it would go bankrupt. The horsemen are concerned that If Lariat files for bankruptcy and it controls the purse fund, then horsemen would not be paid.

Last week, Jones said that he would seek another horsemen’s group to conduct the live meet, but Fourth District Judge Cheri Copsey ruled on Thursday that Lariat Productions could not make a deal with another horsemen’s group until she rules on the arbitrated contract with the Idaho HBPA—a ruling not expected until May 3.

The Les Bois meet is the largest in Idaho, which also has several fair meets throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Snapp said that canceling racing at Les Bois would have a damaging effect on racing throughout the state.

"We’re the main track in Idaho, and all the fairs and stuff feed off us," Snapp said. "I’ve already had some horsemen tell me that they’re jumping ship, which means the racing throughout the state will be depleted. Us closing will have a trickling effect on the racing economy in the state."

Despite the increasing possibility that Les Bois will not conduct live racing this year, it is still business as usual at the Boise track where Snapp said staff are preparing for racing until told otherwise.

"We’re still operational like we’re going to run," Snapp said. "Horses are working, and we’re working on the track and facility."—Ed DeRosa

With 12 hours remaining before a Friday midnight deadline would have resulted in the cancellation live racing at Les Bois Park, horsemen and track officials reached an agreement on Friday afternoon concerning the fate of $485,000 in revenue from handle on simulcast wagering at the Boise, Idaho, racetrack.

With 12 hours remaining before a Friday midnight deadline would have resulted in the cancellation live racing at Les Bois Park, horsemen and track officials reached an agreement on Friday afternoon concerning the fate of $485,000 in revenue from handle on simulcast wagering at the Boise, Idaho, racetrack. The agreement allows the Idaho Horsemen and Benevolent Protective Association to take control of the $485,000, which is earmarked for purses. Arnell Jones, owner of Lariat Productions Inc., which operates Les Bois, wanted the money deposited in a track account so that the company could use the funds for operation expenses, thus avoiding bankruptcy. Then, at the end of the season, the track would pay back the money to horsemen for purses earned. The Idaho HBPA was concerned that if Lariat went bankrupt, then the horsemen would not get their share of the revenue.

Les Bois Racing Secretary Fred Snapp confirmed the agreement and its arrangements on Friday afternoon, saying that horsemen and track officials would meet at 3 p.m. MDT to finalize the contract. When a contract was in doubt, Snapp had said that some horsemen were hesitant to ship to Les Bois in preparation for the 46-day spring meet, but with 15 days remaining before opening day, May 3, Snapp expects a sizable contingent on the backstretch stable area.

"I think we’re going to be okay and have some full barns," Snapp said. "This was a happy ending of a horrible ordeal."

Snapp said that Les Bois is expecting a larger crowd than usual on opening day, which also is the date of the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. A major candidate for this year’s race is Buddy Gil, who was raised in Idaho. In addition, the horse’s jockey and trainer both have Idaho connections. Gary Stevens rode in his first race at Les Bois and Jeff Mullins spent several years training in Idaho.

"They’re kind of like the home team," Snapp said. "We always have a good crowd when Stevens is riding in the big race."

Representatives from the Idaho HBPA were not immediately available for comment on the deal until after Friday afternoon’s meeting.—Ed DeRosa

Amidst allegations that Coeur d’Alene had violated state law and board regulations by accepting wagers from California residents, the California Horse Racing Board has instructed all of the state’s racetracks to remove the Native American casino and account wagering operations from the state’s simulcast wagering program as of Friday.

On Tuesday, CHRB told Hollywood Park and Bay Meadows Race Course to stop sending their signals to the Coeur d’Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho. California law requires account-wagering companies to become licensed in California before accepting wagers from residents.

In a letter sent Wednesday to four racetracks currently operating in California, CHRB executive director Roy Wood reminded them that the board, during its February 21 meeting, "removed Coeur d’Alene Casino and Coeur d’Alene ADW from consideration when approving the recent license applications of Bay Meadows and Hollywood Park" for upcoming race meets.

"Our primary concern was that California residents were placing telephone account wagers through Coeur d’Alene betting system," Wood wrote. "Effective March 7, 2003, the approval of the Coeur d’Alene Casino and Coeur d’Alene ADW is hereby rescinded. Please take all necessary steps to terminate the audio-visual signal of your simulcast program to Coeur d’Alene Casino and Coeur d’Alene ADW as well as preventing any further commingling of pools with the Casino or ADW."