OGDEN, UT—MAY 6, 2016—According to a story by JaNae Francis posted yesterday in the Standard-Examiner, "flat" Quarter Horse racing will return to Weber Downs near Ogden, Utah later this month.

Weber Downs will kickoff their 2016 race meet May 20 and 21 at the Golden Spike Event Center, 1000 N. 1200 West in Ogden, with timed trials for three stakes races.

"Ogden has a good race track and it seems silly for it to sit there dormant," said Jeannie Hullinger, Utah Quarter Horse Racing Association (UQHRA) secretary. "We’re going to be running for some pretty good money up there."

The Ogden facility has hosted the World Chariot Racing finals since 1993. Flat-track races were last held there in 1995.

"The Golden Spike Event Center has gone above and beyond to help us," Hullinger said.

According to Hullinger the facility has added a new saddling paddock, test barn and several improvements to get ready for the new meet.

"While it was a long process, we are proud that our track is re-certified by the AQHA,’" said Jim Harvey, general manager of the Golden Spike Event Center. "This took the work of many. Once we achieved this AQHA approval our projected race entries have nearly doubled. We had to add another day of qualifying races just to accommodate all of the interest."

Trials scheduled later this month at Weber Downs include the Jake Kapp Memorial and the Maiden Frolic. First post May 20 will be at 3 p.m. (MDT).

Track officials expect at least eight trials on May 21 for the Sherm Hadley/Ed Giles Memorial Futurity. There are 88 two-year-olds currently eligible for the $20,000-added event with an expected purse of around $70,000.

The three races were previously contested at Laurel Brown Racetrack near South Jordan, Utah.

Hullinger told the Standard-Examiner that both Hadley and Giles are worthy of having a race named for them.

"Those were two great Intermountain trainers we have lost so we are honoring them with this memorial race," she said.

The finals for all three stakes will be run back on Saturday June 4th with noon first post.

"We’re just trying to branch out and get more races for Utah," Hillinger said. "We’re trying to get more racing opportunities for the Utah horsemen."

For Ms. Francis' complete story CLICK HERE.