• Venue improvements planned for 2025, including Duralock rail

EVANSTON, Wyoming — Wyoming Downs experienced record-setting business in its first thoroughbred and quarter-horse meet under the new ownership of ECL Entertainment and Clairvest Group.

“It’s the most successful season ever at Wyoming Downs in every category,” said General Manager Frank Lamb, who began working at Wyoming Downs in 1987, two years after the track opened. “There was a tremendous amount of enthusiasm in the community. We had horsemen coming from everywhere that we hadn’t seen before. And they want to come back.”

Wyoming Downs ran on Saturdays and Sundays, June 8 through this past Sunday. Among the records:

• Purses paid out totaled $3.1 million. That’s up 47 percent over 2023, according to Equibase data.

• Total wagering (all in state) on the 20-day meet totaled $2.1 million, a 6-percentincrease over a year ago.

• Total attendance for the 20 days totaled 28,965, a 12.5 percent increase over last year.

• The average field size was 8.87 starters for 211 races, up almost 9 percent over last year’s 203 races.

“The new ownership is thrilled with the success of the race meet, and there will be further investment and improvements in the offseason,” Lamb said. “”Wyoming Downs is committed to becoming the regional leader in safety. That includes installing a Duralock rail system and other safety initiatives for 2025.”