Horse racing aficionados in Pima County encountered unexpected turbulence this week as it was announced that the beloved Rillito Racetrack will not feature horse racing in 2025, due to a controversy surrounding the procurement process for a new operator, as per a report from Arizona Public Media. The current operator, Rillito Racing, Inc., which has been at the helm since 2014, failed to renew its contract on June 30, leading to the county's search for a new management team.
According to a memorandum from Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher, Rillito Racing, Inc.'s inaction on providing financial audits for the past three years prompted the county to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) on July 1.
Lesher highlighted in the memorandum, "While the member stated that he was unaware that the Foundation was intending to bid and resigned from the RFP Review Committee when that fact was known, a potential respondent to the RFP has had access to information that was not equally provided to all potential applicants."
The track, a historical pillar of Pima County, won't be abandoned; Lesher assured that before the fresh procurement attempt, there will be a comprehensive assessment of the track's condition, including the rail system and other infrastructure concerns, thus ensuring the Rillito Racetrack will, in fact, "live on" even as fans and stakeholders regroup from this hiccup.
