The historic Rillito Racetrack in Pima County has hit a speed bump on the road to finding its next operator. Fans of the equine tradition were dealt a heavy blow as the county announced there would be no horse racing for the 2025 season due to a pause in the operator search process. This interruption stems from complications during the initial bid phase, leading county officials to reassess their strategy.

"This property is a significant part of our local heritage," said Vic Pereira, Parks & Recreation Director for Pima County, as per Pima County, expressing commitment to the racetrack's preservation. Despite the setback, which ensures the track will lay dormant at least for the next season, Pereira's statement, obtained by a local news outlet, emphasized the intention to maintain the facility for public enjoyment and historical importance.

Problems emerged when the County's Procurement Director advised a reset of the Request for Proposals initially issued on July 1, after the contract with Rillito Racing, Inc. concluded at the end of June. A July 22 memo from Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher to the Board of Supervisors, which can be viewed on the county's website, detailed the reasoning behind halting and restarting the bid process – a decision that effectively ruled out the possibility of racing in 2025 due to timing constraints.