Thunder Plains Park, a one-mile racetrack currently being built in Cheyenne, Wyoming, received approval during the Wyoming Gaming Commission’s November 21 meeting to host a 16-day fall horse racing event in 2026. The races are planned to take place from Friday, October 2, through Sunday, November 1, with events scheduled every weekend from Friday to Sunday, as well as a race on Monday, October 12, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
At the meeting, Will Edwards of Cowboy Racing LLC announced that Bally’s has submitted an application to take over the operating license for the track. If approved, 1/ST Racing will cease their involvement in the racetrack’s operations. Bally’s is also the operator of Arapahoe Park in Colorado, located about 190 miles south of Cheyenne near Denver. Edwards noted that being connected to Arapahoe Park offers many new opportunities for both the state and the racetrack.
Due to the non-compliance of Arapahoe Park’s backside with Colorado regulations, races there were held from September through mid-November in recent years. The 2025 season at Arapahoe Park ends on November 16, while dates for 2026 are yet to be finalized. Bally’s still requires Wyoming Gaming Commission approval to obtain the license for Thunder Plains Park, with committee members indicating a special meeting will be held to review the application.
Even though key facilities like barns and administrative buildings are still under construction, Thunder Plains Park’s race schedule was approved. Bill Edwards, president of Edwards Development and father of Will Edwards, stated plans to build six steel barns each containing 80 stalls and multiple tack rooms, with intentions to add six more barns after the 2026 season. The first layer of the racing surface has been installed, and further work on the surface and rails is set to begin by March 15. Construction of the barn and track is expected to be finished by May 15; if not, temporary stabling arrangements will be sought elsewhere.
When Thunder Plains Park was initially announced in November 2024, the concept included a wide array of amenities such as a hotel, outdoor sports fields for soccer, baseball, and golf, an indoor sports complex, a Wyoming Horse Racing Museum, and recreational areas. However, by the time of this report, the website’s vision map only displayed the racetracks and a potential polo field in the infield.
In addition to Thunder Plains Park, the commission approved race schedules for three other tracks. Wyoming’s horse racing season kicks off with Energy Downs 307 in Gillette in late May, followed by events at Wyoming Downs near the Utah-Wyoming border. Kyle Ridgway, president of 307 Horse Racing LLC and Wyoming Downs LLC, explained that a renegotiated contract led to a shorter schedule in Gillette but expressed optimism for greater revenue by operating in Evanston.
Wyoming Downs will run its own tournament from July through mid-August, after which races will shift to Sweetwater Downs, continuing through the last weekend of September.
Fan Take: This approval marks a major step forward for horse racing in Wyoming, introducing a fresh racing venue with strong regional ties through Bally’s involvement. For fans, it promises expanded opportunities to enjoy the sport and signals growth potential that can elevate horse racing’s presence and popularity in the region.
