Horse Racing Returns to Wyoming with Trials at Sweetwater Downs

August 23, 2011 - After a two-year hiatus since racing was last contested in the state, Sweetwater Downs in Rock Springs, Wyoming, opened on Saturday with eight trials to the $20,000-added Sweetwater Downs Futurity. Equibase reported a crowd of 700 turned out for the card and wagered a total of $31,342. Racing was last held at Sweetwater in 1993, and the last live race in the state was in 2009 at Wyoming Downs in Evanston.

The fastest qualifier from the eight trials was Hezdashinginthedark, who covered 350 yards in :17.686 with Paul Greene aboard. The Darkelly colt is trained by Ross Brown, who co-owns the Idaho-bred with Elsha McGarry. Hezdashinginthedark previously qualified for the Rocky Mountain Spring Classic Futurity and Hawthorne Futurity in Idaho.

Sweetwater Downs is set to run three more days of live racing on August 21 and September 3 and 4. For more information, visit www.wyominghorseracing.com.