County
Idaho Ag Heritage Park Is Good Fit At Expo Idaho
March 16, 2011 
Since horse racing can’t get out of the starting gate, the GUARDIAN suggests the county join forces with the G-BAD BOYS and Garden City with an eye toward creating an “Idaho Agricultural Heritage Park at the fairgrounds (Expo-Idaho).
The commishes turned down the most recent sole bid for racing at the fairgrounds and we think with a vote of the citizens and through donations, we could finance a demonstration farm with authentic barns, sheds and farmhouses — plenty are being demolished to make room for the hordes seeking to live
shoulder-to-shoulder with their neighbors in what was once rural Ada County.
Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, Greenfield Village in Michigan, and the LBJ Ranch in Texas are historic parks that preserve our heritage and provide an educational experience for young and old alike with historic demonstration farms, and they are big tourist attractions. The oft-maligned state of Mississippi has a wonderful “southern town” heritage park adjacent to the state fairgrounds in Jackson. It has a general store, church, gas station with a hand pump, and all that exemplified life in the deep south about 1900.
We have talked about the idea with previous Ada Commishes, but it looks like the time has come to do some serious planning and rein in the horse track which is nothing but trouble and expense for the county.
Read the complete press release below.
Today, the Board of Ada County Commissioners, on the recommendation of the Expo Idaho Advisory Board, unanimously voted to reject the sole proposal for a new operator of simulcast and live horse racing at Les Bois Park. The proposal was submitted during the most recent Request for Proposal process initiated by Commissioners in hopes of securing a new tenant and operator for horse racing on the County-owned property.
The single proposal received from Treasure Valley Racing, LLC, was rejected by Commissioners due to several concerns with the proposed terms. In a previous meeting, the Expo Idaho Advisory Board also voted unanimously to recommend rejection of the proposal as it was presented.
Points of concern included financial terms of the agreement such as the proposed lease amount, the cash bond/deposit amount, the proposed revenue-sharing provisions associated with the handle, and the length of the lease term. Commissioners stated that the proposal does not currently meet the minimum standards required; however the rejection came with the caveat that they would like to see negotiations between the proposers and the County continue.
“We’re still hopeful that after further discussion we will be able to arrive at mutually acceptable terms that will create a win-win situation for both parties,” said Ada County Commission Chairman Rick Yzaguirre.
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Mar 16, 2011, 1:20 pm
Ditch the fair. Ditch the horseraces. It would be a great place for a park. Or sell the grounds. County does not need to be in the entertainment business.
Mar 16, 2011, 1:39 pm
Disney World Boise!
Hey, why not just have a pro rodeo come through a few times a year.
Our fair is really lame too. Put on a good one and advertise it nationwide.
I think we need to spend a few million on a study now.
Mar 16, 2011, 7:49 pm
Probably could turn all of Garden City into something like that; would be a definite improvement. (Keep the Stagecoach; it’s good, and would fit right in. Not much else worth saving.)
Mar 17, 2011, 7:20 am
“The oft-maligned state of Mississippi has a wonderful “southern town” heritage park adjacent to the state fairgrounds in Jackson. It has a general store, church, gas station with a hand pump, and all that exemplified life in the deep south about 1900.”
I’m sure it comes with the complimentary “whites only” sign at the drinking fountain and the obligatory local cop busting some heads for the audacity of a black guy looking at a white woman.
Mar 17, 2011, 7:30 am
Ola, you forgot to mention all the white supremacists and skinheads that put Idaho on the map for so many years. You prove that bigotry has two sides while the G-Man was talking nice about an Idaho history park, not racism.
Mar 17, 2011, 7:34 am
I didn’t forget anything Dave, I was merely responding to the quote “…and ALL that exemplified life in the deep south…”
Mar 17, 2011, 11:26 pm
Just a quick point Mr. Logic. There were 5 people living full time at Butler’s compound! Sure, they would hold events that brought in more idiots of their ilk, but yet there were only 5 that lived there!
Mar 18, 2011, 9:18 pm
Well considering that Idaho is about to “pass” Mississippi in education in the race to the bottom, the analogy probably fits.
I miss the ponies at the track.
Mar 19, 2011, 1:23 pm
In Minnesota, an early day “town” on the Minnesota river has been created at Murphy’s Landing near Shakopee. Racing doesn’t seem to be a huge draw in Minnesota where lobbyists want to build a casino at the track.