IDAHO FALLS, ID—SEPTEMBER 29, 2017—Sandy Downs, the home track of IdaRacing wraps up their 2017 racing season on Saturday (Sep. 30) with the $30,000 Hawthorne/IdaBet.com Futurity and memorial races for Dennie Hill and Don & Jan Martin.

Fans are encouraged to make it out to the last racing date of the season and pay it forward if they can. Every year, on every race date, IdaRacing GIVES THANKS and supports the efforts of local community & charity organizations to help individuals & families in need.

On Saturday, IdaRacing at Sandy Downs is assisting the American Legion Post 56 with their annual Toys for Tots charity event AND the Idaho Falls Community Food Bank Food Drive. Racing fans can save $1 off the price of admission by donating a new unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots OR they can donate two cans of food to help support families in need. Fast horses are ready to strut their stuff for racing enthusiasts on Saturday with the Hawthorne/IdaBet.com Futurity Finals with a purse of $30,000 generously sponsored by Lonna Gertsner, DVM of Hawthorne Animal Hospital in Chubbuck, Idaho ($10k added) and IdaBet.com ($5k added) and Dan and Connie Moon ($1,500 added).

This year’s Hawthorne fnal has a bit of a twist due to Mother Nature affecting the running of the trials and races being cancelled because of excessive rain. Trials were forfeited and the Finals will consist of two 8 horse races with winners splitting the purse evenly.

IdaRacing would like to thank Dan and Connie Moon and Intermountain Racing & Entertainment for adding additional purse money to reach the $30k threshold for this great stakes program.

In addition to 7 live horse races and 2 charity events, the price of admission gets racing fans the excitement of the always popular Indian Relay Races and new this year, the Teton Trixster, equine trick rider. Saturday’s event will feature live horse racing, the American Legion Post 56 Flag ceremony & local veteran bugle first call, area Rodeo Queens on horseback, live music by Severed Ties, an old-time photo booth, and gifts and prizes with fun for the whole family hosted by the Colt Whitmore Show in between races. There are fun bounces and water works for the kids, many giveaways, free betting vouchers & free kids dogs while supplies last as well as good eats and ice cold beverages all evening long with this non-stop trackside party.

The quality of the breeding programs of Idaho horsemen in particular, as well as those across the Intermountain West really shows. Horses bred in Idaho continue to compete at the highest levels in racing and are taking home the winnings. These dedicated individuals at the grassroots level greatly deserve a pat on the back and need help from the Idaho Legislature and local community leaders to sustain this very important tradition and economic generator in our great state of Idaho!

Fall weather is forecast and fans are encouraged to dress accordingly but based on social media interests and direct phone calls, a large crowd is expected for this season finale! Live racing at Sandy Downs is family-friendly entertainment and fans are reminded to come early to be able to enjoy the pre-racing flag show and events and BET early to avoid being shut out at the windows. Post times listed are when the horses actually leave the starting gate beginning with the first race. Don’t be late or you’ll miss it!

Due to the number of horses hauling in, horsemen are encouraged to book rooms early due to availability of other events happening in Idaho Falls. The LaQuinta Inns & Suites is a proud sponsor of IdaRacing and are offering discounted rooms subject to availability with promo code IDARS1.

IdaRacing would like to thank all of their sponsors who make racing possible in the community. Special mention needs to go to Mayor Casper and Parks & Recreation Director Greg Weitzel and their entire City of Idaho Falls team who do an incredible job at the Sandy Downs events center to support IdaRacing’s horse racing venue and continue enhancements and upgrades to the event center. IdaRacing also thanks their Corporate sponsors who really make a difference by supporting racing; a rural and long-standing family tradition and livelihood for many. A big thank you and shout out to SandHill Media, Hawthorne Animal Hospital, TEC Distributing & Coors Light & Sam Adams, The Dakri Bernard Realty Group, LaQunita Inns & Suites, the Post Register and IdaBet.com! You can find a complete listing of all sponsors at IdaRacing.com – remember to support these great businesses.

Sandy Downs is located on East 65th Street in Idaho Falls. For further information visit IdaRacing.com or call 208-745-8433. If you can’t make it to the track, watch the races from the comfort of your own home and wager online with Idabet.com or by phone toll-free at 877-782-9994.

Fans can open an account by logging onto Idabet.com or calling the Phone bet number. The service is available in all states where online betting is permitted. Players earn IdaRewards - a daily cash back program for most bets, premium monthly rewards, easy access to extensive information to handicap the races and exceptional personalized service.

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Idabet.com is licensed in Idaho, regulated by the Idaho State Racing Commission and the Oregon Racing Commission and is a service of eBet Technologies and owned by Idaho-based Intermountain Racing & Entertainment, LLC.

Always remember, if you can’t make it to the track, you can watch the races at Sandy Downs and those across the country and even live International racing from the comfort and convenience of your home on IdaBet.com!