Sandy Downs season opens Friday

Sandy Downs opens its “Ida Racing” season Friday, offering advanced wagering on the Belmont Stakes, along with betting on tonight’s runs.

Eight high stake races are scheduled for the opener, including the Idaho Quarter Horse Racing Association’s premiere Bitterroot Futurity and Derby Trials. Over 100 two and three-year-old quarter horses are expected from across the intermountain west.

They will compete for a chance at an estimated $126,725 in purse money on June 22 at Sandy Downs.

Downs manager, Jim Bernard, is excited to open the season, viewing horse racing as a “timeless tradition” that brings people together.

“Tonight especially, there’ll be a couple thousand people from out of town be here. You know that’ll be big, plus all the locals that we get to come out. Got a great contingent of local fans who just love to see the horses, you know I mean it’s a timeless tradition really,” Bernard said. “They’ve raced horses here for, I’d struggle to remember the date but it’s been a long time…the horsemen actually built the facility.”

Friday’s first post is scheduled for 6 p.m.