Lincoln says goodbye to old horse racing track

September 22, 2013 11:28 pm

Horse racing enthusiasts bid farewell to the old Lincoln Race Course.

Sunday marked the last day for simulcasting inside the grandstand on the old state fairgrounds.

Steve Thiellen has been betting on races there for more than 30 years. He says he was there for the first day, and made it a point to be there for the last day.

“Me and my son used to play with paper airplanes down there, when I'd bring him we'd throw airplanes and see if we could hit the windows with them,” Thiellen said.

But, like many patrons, he agrees it's time to move on.

“The turns were so sharp that a lot of horses got hurt on it and, you know, it was probably time,” Thiellen said.

Lincoln's only horse racing track was built back in the 1930's. The last live race took place last year.

Some are hoping the new facility, located on the southwest edge of town, can bring live racing back to the city.

“There's so many jobs and people invested in this industry in Nebraska that it would be a shame to lose it completely,” Lincoln Race Course supervisor Danny Johnson said.

The new $6 million facility is near Highway 77 and West Denton Road. There's no race track yet, but Winner's Circle Sports Bar and Grille, which opens this Friday, has a simulcasting lounge.