Wyoming Horse Racing LLC (WHR) is preparing for a record-setting 2026 live racing meet at Sweetwater Downs, beginning Saturday, Aug. 15.

© Sweetwater Downs

By Hayley McKee

ROCK SPRINGS, WY–AUGUST 11, 2026–Wyoming Horse Racing LLC (WHR) is preparing for a record-setting 2026 live racing meet at Sweetwater Downs, beginning Saturday, Aug. 15, with significantly larger purses, two new Wyoming-bred stakes races and increased competition from across the region. WHR’s investment in its two border tourism properties on the Colorado and Utah state lines is driving bigger payouts and a stronger racing program that is attracting some of the region’s best horses.

On Saturday, September 12, the featured race of the meet, the Sweetwater Downs Quarter Horse Futurity, will be run. “This is the race everyone will be watching,” said Nick Hughes, president of WHR, which operates Sweetwater Downs. “The Quarter Horse Futurity was the richest race in Wyoming history last year, and all signs point to another record-setting event in 2026.”

In 2025, WHR hosted 15 stakes races, and in 2026, the meet will expand to 19 stakes races. Especially notable among this year’s new races are the Wyoming-Bred Thoroughbred Futurity and the Wyoming-Bred Thoroughbred Derby. These additions reflect growing interest in Wyoming-bred racing.

“The response from horsemen has been outstanding,” said Eugene Joyce, partner and Sweetwater Downs president of racing. “Higher purses are drawing more people to breed horses in Wyoming, and they are giving Cowboy State horses more opportunities to compete here at home.”

Community partners will also be part of two of the meet’s biggest race days. On opening day, the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce and local businesses will join WHR for a day at the races. Sweetwater County Travel & Tourism will join the Sept. 12 race day. WHR will name races in recognition of these key business and economic development organizations.

Wyoming Horse Racing has also continued making improvements to the Sweetwater Downs track and barn areas ahead of opening day.

“Safety is at the center of every decision we make,” said Joyce. “Our track improvements, barn upgrades and racing policies are all designed to provide the safest possible environment for horses, jockeys trainers, employees and guests.”

The Sweetwater Downs meet runs from Aug. 15 through Sept. 27. Gates open at noon on Saturdays and Sundays, with the first race starting at 1 p.m. Races will also be held on Fridays: Aug. 21 and 28, and Sept. 11, with a post time of 4 p.m. Thhttps://us10.admin.mailchimp.com/campaigns/edit?id=13881387e meet will close out with an expanded race weekend, including a 10-race card on Friday, Sept. 25, beginning at 2:30 p.m. General admission is $6, which includes a free program.

For those who can’t attend the live races in person, Wyoming Horse Racing offers betting at any of the 13 Horse Palace locations, including sites in Casper, Cheyenne, Evanston, Gillette, Green River, Laramie, Rock Springs and Sheridan.

For more information on live racing at Sweetwater Downs, visit horsepalace.win/live-racing.

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About Wyoming Horse Racing
Wyoming Horse Racing LLC has deep roots in the West and operates Horse Palace locations throughout Wyoming and live racing at Sweetwater Downs in Rock Springs. The company is owned by industry stalwarts Nick Hughes, John Sheldon and Pete Liguori, who have decades of experience in the horse racing, hospitality, and gaming industries. WHR spearheaded the foundation of HHR terminals in Wyoming, which have significantly grown the state’s horse industry and meaningfully contribute to Wyoming tax revenues since the Joyce family revived racing in 1989 and 2011. The company prioritizes responsible play, a dedication to horse racing and continued stewardship and investment in the hospitality and agri-business sectors in Wyoming.

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