City should receive racing money

The city should start seeing money from the historic racing and off-track betting establishment in Green River.

Eugene Joyce, Wyoming Horse Racing LLC., president and general manager, gave a brief presentation at the Green River City Council meeting Tuesday evening about the racing facility’s needs and what the Council could expect to see in revenue generated from the historic racing and its’ off-track betting establishment called Town Bar and Grill.

“We have high hopes that it will generate revenue for this community,” Joyce said.

All of this was made possible after a bill was passed in 2013 allowing cities, towns and counties to receive the money from the historic racing wagers, he said.

Rock Springs and Sweetwater County have already received about $3 million each in the last 5 1/2 years for the revenues generated.

“This year alone, each of those two entities, will bring in over half a million dollars a piece,” he said.

As for the Town Bar and Grill, Joyce is anticipating that client base to grow. He said once they really get up and going, revenues will be around $100,000 to $150,000 a year for the city.

When addressing the Sweetwater County Events Complex facilities, Joyce said there are areas that need improvements.

“One of the problems I have as a business man is that the facility at the events’ complex, the horse-racing facility, is not up to current safety standards for horse racing,” Joyce said.

The Sweetwater County Commission and the Rock Springs City Council have both agreed to set some money aside to help pay for needed million-dollar improvements, including a jockey’s room, a race office, new horse safety rail, and moving the finish line for safety reasons. Joyce said he just wanted to let the Council know where everything was at in the public/private partnership.

Other Business

The Council proclaimed Oct. 6-12 to be National Fire Prevention Week. On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m all fire departments within Sweetwater County will be hosting a “Kick Off to Fire Prevention Week, Open House” for the residents of Sweetwater County. The open house will have apparatuses and firefighters from all of the fire departments within Sweetwater County along with special guests who will be serving free hot dogs and drinks at the Sweetwater County Events Complex.