Horse Racing Advocates Still Pushing to Bring the Sport Back to Missoula

Horse racing advocates in Missoula took a big hit on Monday when the Fairgrounds Advisory Committee voted ten to four to exclude the racetrack and its associated structures from future development plans.

"Until they actually tear out that racetrack, we'll continue to try to raise funds and work with the local turf club to try to bring racing back," says acting executive secretary for the Montana Board of Horse Racing, Tom Tucker. "This year is too late because I think they've already scheduled events, but that gives us another year to generate more revenue so that hopefully next spring we'll be able to secure some dates at the fair to run horse racing."

Tom Tucker:

In the end it all comes down to finances. Tucker believes that new laws passed by the state legislature over the past three years could help bring in more revenue for horse racing, not just in Missoula, but for other cities on the Montana circuit as well.