Horse racing at Rillito Regional Park likely will begin next month after the Pima County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a contract extension for the track operator.
The board unanimously approved an extension of the contract to July 2017 after hearing from numerous community members in support of racing.
Jaye Wells, president of the Rillito Park Foundation, said the decision to hold races should not be seen as a soccer versus racing decision.
Wells described the park as a successful multi-use facility that operates “for the benefit of everyone and not to the demise of anyone.”
Ted Schmidt, president of Tucson Soccer Academy, said the organization also supports the multi-use aspect.
“The soccer groups don’t oppose the extension of the lease,” Schmidt said, but asked the board to try to make a long term plan to address racing.
Wells has said the foundation’s efforts to raise money from private investors would be aided by a long-term lease agreement.
Such fundraising would allow the organization to build new stables for horses and make improvements to other facilities at the park.
Some audience members did not support the contract extension or continuation of racing at Rillito.
Gary Davidson, a member of the Pima County Bond Advisory Committee and former Parks and Recreation Committee member, said racing should be relocated to another facility.
“It’s a private enterprise that’s operating on a public park,” Davidson said. “You need a business-like contract, not another sweetheart deal for the well-connected.”
The vote on the contract was postponed from a meeting last month because supervisors were concerned with late delivery of the details and requirements for county investment in facility improvements.
Racing is scheduled to begin on Saturday, Feb. 13.
