Horse racing returns to Idaho Falls on June 10th with live Thoroughbred and Quarter horse racing at Sandy Downs.  Twelve days of racing are scheduled for the 2011 season with full wagering at the country style race park.  Horses from the Intermountain Region, Northwest, and the Midwest are expected to compete.Â
Jim Bernard, President and General Manager of Ida Racing, operators of the Sandy Downs race meet said this year’s season is just the tip of the iceberg for a renaissance for Idaho racing.  He said, “There is a new era unfolding for Idaho racing and we are so pleased to grow the horse racing industry for our horsemen, local farms and great fans.  This year brings together the fun at Sandy Downs, our new Turf Club at the Fort Hall Casino and the rapid growth of our IdaBet.com online wagering service.  Together, these innovations form the cornerstone of a bright future for the important racing industry and its contributions to the state.
The 2011 race dates in will be June 10, 11, 17, 24 and 25 as well as July 8, 9, 15, 22, 23, 29 & 30.  Post time for the first race is 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.  In addition to the live action, fans can watch and wager on races from across the country including famed race courses like Saratoga.
Admission daily is $6 which includes a grandstand seat (first come, first serve), official program, tip sheet and a discount coupon when available. Children 10 and under are free with an adult.  Sandy Downs also offers festival style seating on the picnic lawn.  Fans can choose from an array of concessions and a country-style barbecue.
A series of fun promotions and live music will be offered throughout the meet to entertain the entire family as well as the astute racing fan; Mad Capper Handicapping Inside Tips, Free Mystery Betting Vouchers, the Derby Girls, Nightly Celebrity Handicapping, Book Signing of the Earl Sande Saga, Nationally Sponsored AQHA Q-Racing Aces Handicapping Seminar, Indian Relay Races and much more.
The AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) will present stakes races featuring some of the top runners in the region.  The stakes schedule is:
•Adequan Sandy Downs Derby Challenge, Estimated Purse $40,000 – $16,500 added money AQHA Challenge Racing Program; Trials June 10,   Finals June 25
•John Deere Sandy Downs, Juvenile Challenge, Estimated Purse $70,000 – $16,500 added money AQHA Challenge Racing Program; Trials June 11, Finals June 25
•Red Cell Sandy Downs Distance Challenge, Estimated Purse $20,000 – $13,500 added money AQHA Challenge Racing Program; Trials July 9, Finals July 23
•Giltner Trucking Bonus Challenge, Estimated Purse $8,000 – $4000 added money Giltner Trucking Jerome Idaho and AQHA Challenge Racing Program; June 11
•Hadtobenuts Derby, Estimated Purse $25,000 – $7500 added money – Dan & Connie Moon, Trials July 15, Finals July 30
∙Hawthorne Futurity, Estimated Purse $35,000 – $10,000 added money from Hawthorne Animal Clinic, Trial July 15, Finals July 30
Fans that can’t make it to the track now have multiple options to play the races;  IdaBet.com offers online and phone wagering from more than 280 racetracks worldwide including the likes of Belmont Park in New York and Hollywood Park in California.  You can wager on the Belmont Stakes – the exciting final leg of the triple crown on Saturday, June 11th.  First post for Belmont Park is 11am MST with post time for the much anticipated running of the Belmont Stakes at 4:30pm MST.
You can also wager in the comfort of a new off track betting facility, The Turf Club inside Fort Hall Casino.  The Turf Club features multiple flat big screen TV’s with worldwide racing seven days a week and a state of the art self service wagering system as well as a fully automated Vest Program Printing Kiosk .Â
For more information, please call or email the following:
IdaRacing at Sandy Downs; 208-745-8433 or visit IdaRacing.com;Â Â IdaBet.com; 877-782-9994 to open an account or click on IdaBet.com for more information; The Turf Club at Fort Hall Casino; 208-237-8774 x 3041 or go to IdaRacing.com for more information.
