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Grants Pass Downs Announces New Gaming, Entertainment Venue

Gaming, entertainment and dining venue The Flying Lark is coming to Grants Pass in fall 2021. Founded by entrepreneur and Grants Pass native Travis Boersma as part of a larger effort to revitalize the horse racing industry in Oregon, The Flying Lark is a significant, long-term investment in the city of Grants Pass. It will create a meaningful number of jobs, bolster the local economy, and provide vital funding and stability to the equine industry throughout the region, including horse owners, trainers, veterinarians, jockeys, and a wide range of vendors and suppliers.

Located next to Grants Pass Downs at the southwest corner of the Josephine County Fairgrounds, The Flying Lark will boast a full-service family restaurant, a grab-and-go restaurant, a sports bar, a gaming bar, a state-of-the-art gaming floor, banquet facilities and art pieces by regional artists that celebrate the magic, power and beauty of horses. Its grab-and-go offering will include coffee drinks, sweets and small bites, and two of the dining areas will offer both indoor and outdoor seating to take advantage of Grants Pass' famous climate.

The establishment is named after local racing icon Don Jackson's legendary Oregon thoroughbred who led the nation in wins for two years in the 1980s. A well-respected member of the Grants Pass community, Jackson was a long-time supporter of Grants Pass Downs. His passion for horse racing and dedication to developing interest in the sport significantly bolstered the horse racing industry in the state.

The Flying Lark – along with recent upgrades to Grants Pass Downs – is part of a transformation of the Josephine County Fairgrounds into a year-round destination for Southern Oregon and Northern California.

“We're really looking forward to the impact The Flying Lark will make both economically and culturally to our local community and the state of Oregon,” said Boersma, CEO and founder of Grants Pass Downs and The Flying Lark.

Horses have played a vital role in Oregon's history and were present throughout the region before the arrival of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 1800s. The Flying Lark will feature art installations, murals, sculptures and other storytelling elements that celebrate horses and their positive impact on the State of Oregon and its rich history.

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Grants Pass Downs Launching Entertainment, Gaming Venue Next to Track

The Flying Lark, a gaming, entertainment and dining venue is coming to Grants Pass Downs in fall 2021, the track announced Tuesday. Founded by entrepreneur and Grants Pass native Travis Boersma as part of a larger effort to revitalize the horse racing industry in Oregon, The Flying Lark will be located next to Grants Pass Downs at the southwest corner of the Josephine County Fairgrounds. The Flying Lark will boast a full-service family restaurant, a grab-and-go restaurant, a sports bar, a gaming bar, a state-of-the-art gaming floor, banquet facilities and art pieces by regional artists.

The establishment is named after local racing icon Don Jackson’s legendary Oregon Thoroughbred who led the nation in wins for two years in the 1980s.

“We’re really looking forward to the impact The Flying Lark will make both economically and culturally to our local community and the state of Oregon,” said Boersma, CEO and founder of Grants Pass Downs and The Flying Lark.

Click here for more information on The Flying Lark.

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Wildfire Smoke Forces Postponement of Grants Pass Downs Opener

Heavy smoke from wildfires in the northwest portion of the country has blanketed Grants Pass Downs at the Josephine County Fairgrounds in southern Oregon, causing track management there to postpone the scheduled opening day of the autumn meet from Sep. 14 to Sep. 21.

“We are committed to protecting the health and safety of our guests, human and equine athletes, community of horsemen and women, and Grants Pass Downs staff,” stated a track-issued press release published by FOX26 News. “Until the smoke from the fires decreases to a safe level, we will not conduct training nor racing. Our hearts are with the members of our community who have been impacted by these historic fires, and our sincere gratitude goes out to the firefighters battling the blazes and first responders working to keep our communities safe.”

According to the Josephine County website, people in the county who must evacuate because of the fires are being directed to report to the fairgrounds property where the track is located.

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Grants Pass Downs Reports Significant Handle Increase; Over $2.2 Million Wagered On Summer Meet

Grants Pass Downs, Oregon's premier horse racing track, concluded its second commercial meet on July 8, following a four-week run of Tuesday and Wednesday racing. The summer meet, which began June 16, carded 78 races over nine dates and handled a total of $2,235,303, nearly quadruple the total amount from last year's non-commercial summer meet. The meet saw a dramatic jump in online and off-track betting, with nearly 94 percent of the meet's handle being driven by off-site betting – representing an astounding 859 percent increase from last summer's meet.

The horsemen and horsewomen received $619,511 in purse money on the season at an average of $68,835 per race day and $7,942 per race. Compared to summer 2019, average race day purses saw an increase of $38,863 – up 130 percent. Additionally, the track's field size jumped to an average 7.94 horses per race over last summer's 5.34 horses per race.

“This record-breaking meet shows that racing is alive and well in spite of COVID-19, and our success is a testament to the hard work put in by track staff, operations and facilities teams and the wonderful community of horsemen and women whose efforts made the meet possible,” said Randy Evers, President of Grants Pass Downs. “We are proud to be one of the few live sporting events on television while supporting the local Grants Pass economy.”

Once again, the meet's leading jockey was Kassie Guglielmino with 14 wins in 58 starts. Guglielmino, who also finished the 2019 fall commercial meet as Grants Pass Downs' top jockey, was followed by Taylor E. Smith (11 wins in 50 starts). Jorge Rosales was the meet's leading trainer with 12 wins and ten second place finishes in 37 starts, and Marjorie Avery finished atop the owner rankings with five wins and six second place finishes in 16 starts.

The meet's record handles were achieved despite limited crowd sizes. In response to the pandemic, Grants Pass Downs complied with the Governor's order to limit the number of nonessential people on site at 250 on racing days during the summer meet. It also made significant operational changes to align with guidance from the CDC and Oregon public health officials to ensure the safety of staff, participating horsemen, athletes, and stakeholders. Dates for the upcoming fall race meet will be announced soon.

For questions about meet details, terms, training schedules, or fees and regulations, please visit https://gpdowns.com/.

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