BOISE -- A stall in contract negotiations could lead to a dark season this year at the Idaho Downs at Les Bois Park for the horse racing season.
The company that leases the park, and the leader of the group that represents the horsemen, are not seeing eye to eye.
The race season typically begins in early May.
Horse trainers say it takes twice as long to prepare their horses for the first race day.
So, if an agreement isn't made soon it could mean no horse racing again in the Treasure Valley this year.
Tim Elison is head of the the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, or HBPA.
He and other members have invested thousands of dollars in racing horses, but he's concerned the animals may sit idle.
"We have been now negotiating this contract for the better of eight months and we have been unable to reach an agreement with these people," Elison said.
Elison says the contract favors Idaho Entertainment, which is the company that runs the racing park.
But Eric Spector, Idaho Entertainment's president, says the HBPA is being unreasonable.
"This contract is extremely close to where it needs to be, it will never be perfect for either side but frankly we think we've got the right mix and it's time to get this thing going," Spector said.
Hang-ups include contract length and training time, but the biggest sticking point is race days.
According to a 1989 law, there are supposed to be 46 live race days to ensure park owners don't eliminate live racing and only profit off of simulcast races.
The latest contract draft offers less than 46: no more than 36.
The HBPA says horse racing is a career for a lot of its members, and the fewer the race days, the less money they make.
Idaho Entertainment says it's worked with HBPA's concerns.
"We frankly think the HBPA leadership has raised some issues from time to time that are valid. They've been incorporated into the drafts that have been issued forward by our company," said Spector.
"My understanding is nobody is really communicating with each other,” said horseman Dirk Crane.
Crane says no contract is better than a bad contract, but he wishes the leadership on both sides can come to an agreement soon, otherwise horsemen will be forced to race outside of Idaho.
"Everyone has to pack up with their families or without their families so and leave everyone so they can go try make a living, make a house payment, pay for their cars for whatever else they need in life," Crane said.
Spector says he's talked to rank and file members of the HBPA who say they're eager to get a contract going and now it's up to the HBPA leadership.
"It's time to stop nit picking the contract, it's time to focus on what’s important which is bringing live racing back to the Treasure Valley its time to execute this contract and let's all get ready together to get this place up and going and rebuild this industry," said Spector.
Both sides say they're open to discussions but at this point neither is willing to call each other.
They say they've made their intentions known publicly and it's up to the other side to get in touch with them.
Ada County receives a percentage of income at horse racing events, so commissioners have an interest in seeing a contract in place.
Commissioner Sharon Ullman will address the matter when she appears on Viewpoint, which air Sunday, March 21 at 9 a.m. on Channel 7.
