The City of Cheyenne wants residents to know that the City is aware of a proposal to begin horse racing at Frontier Park and is working to ensure neighborhood concerns are reflected in any final plans.
“We realize that residents who live near Frontier Park are concerned about the impact horse racing could have on their quality of life,” Mayor Patrick Collins said. “The City is limited in what it can do, but we are working to ensure that CFD and the vendor minimize any negative effects to nearby neighborhoods.”
Accel Entertainment has proposed constructing upgrades to Cheyenne Frontier Days’ facilities at Frontier Park in order to begin weekend horse racing events in late summer. The races would be scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after Cheyenne Frontier Days and are proposed to begin in 2024.
Due to Wyoming’s gaming laws, the Laramie County Commission is responsible for choosing whether or not to allow horse racing at locations within Laramie County. The Wyoming Gaming Commission would also have to provide approval.
The City of Cheyenne is not involved in the specific decision of whether or not to allow horse racing. However, the City may have to amend the Frontier Park lease agreement with Cheyenne Frontier Days before horse racing can begin. No such agreements have been brought to City Council so far.
The City is also not responsible for any of the robotexts some residents have received.
One such text leads to a survey by “GLG Research” that suggests the City may consider eminent domain to expand parking areas or raise taxes to pay for improvements related to horse racing.
The City is not considering eminent domain proceedings related to this proposal and the City is not proposing new taxes or tax incentives to pay for or promote horse racing in Cheyenne.
The following are concerns the City is asking CFD and Accel to address in their proposal:
Traffic: The City would like the vendor to work with the City’s traffic engineer and city engineer to mitigate any traffic issues.
Noise: The City has asked for public address systems to be designed in a way to mitigate noise from Frontier Park and may require no nighttime racing take place.
Pests: The City has asked for a detailed plan about how the vendor will deal with waste and pests, including flying insects.
Crime: The City has asked for a security plan that is approved by the city’s police chief.
“We want to see that residents are heard and are included in any public involvement related to this proposal,” Mayor Collins said.