Ready to race

Horses still put through their paces at the fairgrounds

Early in the morning the Flathead County Fairgrounds looks deserted.

But beyond the traffic hurrying along Idaho and Meridian, a small group of dedicated trainers and owners are starting the day.

Horses bob their heads and stomp their feet impatiently, waiting for someone to come by with oats and hay. Others are already making casual circles on their walker. From somewhere, the sounds of Alan Jackson's "Where I Come From" carry through the chilly air.

"… where I come from, tryin' to make a livin'

And workin' hard to get to heaven

Where I come from …"

The bustling stalls are a source of pride for Ron Thibert, who helped strike a deal between the Fair Board and the All Breeds Turf Club. The agreement lets the club keep and train horses at the grounds.

Ever since the county discontinued horse racing a few years ago, Thibert has been crusading to bring racing back.

"People get so much enjoyment watching these horses run," Thibert said. "People are always asking, 'Why the hell aren't the horses running?' It's a sad story."

The county says the costs of hosting racing events is too high to make it worthwhile, but Thibert believes that state funding and money from simulcast, not to mention the economic benefit of bringing racing back, makes the county's argument ineffective.

Still, he is happy the Fair Board signed off on the deal with the horse club. And, this could be a foot in the door for future horse races in Kalispell.

"Anything is a positive for us," Thibert said.

Montana used to have more than 10 horse racing tracks, but that list has been whittled down to just three. Miles City, Billings and Great Falls still manage to keep a racing and rodeo circuit running.

Standing out on the track, it's easy to see why the horse-racing hook sets easy: the ovation of a packed house, each person pulling for a favorite horse. The clang of gates busting open and unleashing a thunder of muscle and will. The adrenaline a jockey must feel in the middle of a race.

But the grandstands are empty. Horse and rider run in near silence around the track these days.

The thoroughbreds and quarter horses can't speak, but if they could, they might admit to enjoying the competition.

After warming up, the horses on their walkers begin to find their legs. They jump forward, trying to push the horse in front to move a little faster. One chestnut mare still in her stall cranes her neck forward at each passerby, practically asking to be led to the track.

Owning one of these beautiful animals has gotten more expensive. A decent horse might sell for as little as $2,000, but wheat costs have doubled and quadrupled in recent years. Food, lodging, training and vet bills quickly add up to make a costly hobby.

But the people cleaning stalls and training horses in the early morning seem to love it all. They keep training, keep working hard and keep hoping that one day they'll get to compete in front of a hometown crowd.

Because where they come from, hard work and horse racing is more than a hobby. It's in their blood.

Reporter Michael Richeson may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at mricheson@dailyinterlake.com