Legacy Downs at WarHorse Lincoln lands four racing days in 2024; dates to be determined

Legacy Downs at WarHorse Lincoln was granted approval by the Nebraska Racing & Gaming Commission for four racing dates in 2024 on Friday.

But the new horse racing track's first race will be held just days from now.

WarHorse Lincoln officials didn't want to promote the race — to be held at 11 a.m. on Oct. 31 — because without a grandstand or a parking lot, it could attract way too many people.

The live race is a constitutional requirement that allows the facility to open its doors to simulcast wagering on races from across the country over the next year.

Lynne McNally, CEO of the Horsemen's group, told the Racing & Gaming Commission that the race will be five furlongs and feature five horses.

One day earlier, Omaha's Horsemen's Park will have a race, too — this one a single furlong (220 yards) that features three horses.

The Halloween race at Legacy Downs will be the first glimpse of the new track that officials are already raving about. The laying down of the track was overseen by Roderick Saylor, a senior vice president at Lexington, Kentucky-based GRW.

"I've seen what Lincoln is doing and they're doing it right," said Tom Sage, executive director of the Racing & Gaming Commission.

The Racing & Gaming Commission also approved adding the Premiere Soccer League to the sports wagering catalog, a move that will attract more bets, McNally said.

"NCAA football and the NFL rule the day, but there is a loyal following for soccer," she said. "People religiously bet on it."

Friday was a good day for Legacy Downs, said Lori Thomas, chief operating officer of the Nebraska Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

In addition to getting its racing officials, as well as procedures for racing conditions and operations approved by the commission, the state approved 53 statewide racing days in 2024.

"Fifty-three days is our magic number," said Racing & Gaming Commission Chairman Dennis Lee, pointing out the necessary number of live events Nebraska must have in a year to be able to simulcast races from other sites in 2025.

With three race tracks — Columbus, Horsemen's Park and Legacy Downs — under construction, there is a whole lot of hoping and even more uncertainty that all of them will be ready when the calendar turns.

That makes it impossible to pinpoint when Legacy Downs will raise the curtain on live racing in 2024 — the construction of a grandstand, stables and inspection of the facilities will have to first take place — but it's fair to say those days will come no earlier than June.

Fonner Park in Columbus will offer live racing Feb. 17 through May 4 — Kentucky Derby day — for a total of 31 race days.

Columbus will have 15 race days that will run between May 17 and June 16.

Thomas said she expects Legacy Downs to come next with four days, followed by one day of racing at Horsemen's Park and two days in Sioux City.

"I'd say we'd go right after Columbus runs," she said. "It's kind of up in the air. We'll tuck ours into the weekends — something like that."