Show w ' Pi I oo 00 CO In Wyoming the future of horse racing is crystal clear wearing frilly suits lacy gloves and velvet hats the amount of money that runs through die facility is “astounding" Moore said But 80 percent of the cash that goes through the gambling windows goes back to the public he explained '“We don’t bet here We wager" Moore said “Buying a lottery ticket is gambling but using a total life history 'of where and how the horse has run is a calculated wager” T he ooe sure dung about a bane nee is that aomebody will make nme dough by the time the spectacle it over It may be the jockey the trainer die hone ownerfs) or Ihe person laying odds but Car nre someone is profiting from the $216 million spoil The rest of m will cut our lotscs and chalk the investment up to a fun experience lb hear participants teU it everyone who comes to the hone races at Wyoming Downs in Evanston is a winner Such is the oal of General Manager Rank Moore the state steward of the facility “Our Mnnhw ooe priority is to make the horseman and the patron happy” Moore said “And we're going to do that through customer service" Moore boasts that Downs is the backbone of the race-hon- e community drawing hones from Idaho Utah Wyoming and as far away as Colorado and California Many hones that race here go on to participate in famous races such as the All American Riturity the richest face in the world and Las Alamidos in California Moore said Although you won't find Wyoming Downs patmu od 12-yer- Wyoming Downs Evanston's largest employer has ariii iit rnipiniiMwf In free and to the total operation Moore said The racing track facility which seats 5000 and employs several hundred loads during the summer season is under the new ownership of Rod Baird and Kim Wilden The two have big plans to create an indoor track next year allowing the facility to remain open yearaound That is good news far the employees of Wyoming Downs who say they enjoy whin they do but have a hard time making a living in the shot racing season Carlos and Stacey Salas are a young married couple who recently moved to Wyoming from California Finding a job in Evanston is no easy task especially if you're a woman Stacey said The couple works together on the floor where patrons pay general admission to wager and watch the races Each has taken bets as high as $180 this summer and received kick downs or tips as high as $35 But the big spenders are up in the grandstand area they explained where the seats are more comfortable and admission is a little higher Cusmmen come in a variety of shapes and sizes the Salas said While you have to be 1 8 yean old to (dace a bet the track welcomes patrons of all ages and horse ncing certainly seemed to be a popular family activity on a Fourth of luly weekend “We see a lot of renchen here" Stacey said “But my favorites are the little old ladies" Although Geoigie Christiansen of Ncola Utah isn’t a little old lady yet chances are good she will still be found at the race truck in a few decades when her hair is silver Geotgie can be found at the track on most weekends with her husband and friends It isn’t unusual for Geoigie to spend $300 in a weekend although she's pretty sure die breaks even or wins every time she goes She doesn't complain about die two-hotrip to Wyoming Downs but Geoigie said Utah needs to get with the program and legalize her favorite hobby They (Utahns) are missing out on a lot of revenue" she said “If you were to poll most of the hones and people here you would find that most of them are from Utah" Although it is a family activity for the Christiansens Geoigie and her husband (dace their bets separately just to keep the relationship amicable Just last year Geoigie and two girlfriends invested $4 each on a race which yielded them a total of $1 1000 Their husbands who ventured $240 and woa nothing were a little tight-lippfor a while Georgie said ed PLEASE SEE RACING ON 11 |