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GARDEN CITY, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's largest horse racing operation is closing after 40 years in business.
Les Bois Park closed its doors permanently on Sunday. Treasure Valley Racing officials said the park can't afford to stay open without horse racing terminals.
Known as instant horse racing, the machines allow bettors to place wages on prior horse races with no identifiable information. The machines have spinning wheels, sounds and animations that mimic slot machines, which are illegal in Idaho.
The Legislature this year decided not to hear an appeal from horsemen who were asking lawmakers to revisit their decisions that struck down the machines as unconstitutional.
Idaho Horse Council member Myron Amsden said losing Les Bois will affect smaller tracks, as the big park helped generate purses, and other aspects of horse racing.
"It's the feed, the hotels, the traveling, eating... it's just a trickledown effect," he said. "Horses are going to be shipped out of state and that's income Idaho doesn't get. That's devastating for our horse economy."
A recent Boise State University study showed the economic impact of Les Bois Park is about $50 million a year and 536 jobs.
Les Bois Park was leased to Treasure Valley Raving by Ada County. It is unclear what will happen to the park now.
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