When Portland Meadows opened in 1946, boosters heralded it as a “dream” for horse-racing fans, “a full-scale race plant of which the Northwest can be proud.”

That was then. The sport of kings’ popularity in the U.S. has fallen precipitously in recent decades, leaving it far behind many other diversions. Portland Meadows closed this year -- it’s expected to be redeveloped into a massive distribution center.

But that doesn’t mean horse racing is gone from Oregon. Instead, it’s moved to the southern reaches of the state, where it appears to be finding an unexpected second life.

Grants Pass Downs, with a new commercial racing license, launched an abbreviated season in September. The races attracted some 25,000 fans to the track at the Josephine County Fairgrounds, according to organizers.

“The transition of racing from Portland to Grants Pass could have created a lot of uncertainty for the industry in Oregon, but we saw nothing but excitement and support for our first commercial meet,” Grants Pass Downs racing director Rod Lowe said in a press statement.

Horse racing has been beset by scandal due to a rash of equine deaths, causing the iconic Santa Anita track in Southern California to temporarily cancel all races early this year. Grants Pass Downs says it is following new voluntary “pre-race veterinary observation protocols” and that its fall season saw no serious injuries.

“Our main priority was to run a safe meet and ensure the welfare of our athletes, both human and equine,” Lowe said of Grants Pass Downs’ inaugural commercial season. “On that metric and beyond, it was an outstanding success.”

Live horse racing has been going on at Grants Pass Downs since 1968, but the operators are now looking to attract top jockeys and race-horse owners. They are upgrading and expanding the facility and offerings, including lengthening the track and adding year-round training and boarding.

This has led to pushback from some community members, who’d rather see more parkland rather than new stables, but Grants Pass Downs vice president Kendra Lellis says the reception has mostly been “enthusiastic and positive.”

Grant Pass Downs’ season will expand to 35 racing days in 2020, with spring racing beginning in May.

-- Douglas Perry

@douglasmperry

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