Kansas Quarter Racing Association announced that horse racing will return to Kansas with a short fall meet in 2026 at Eureka Downs.

© Eureka Downs

EUREKA, KS—DECEMBER 27, 2025— Horse racing is returning to Kansas, and excitement is building across the state. The Greenwood County Fairgrounds in Eureka, home to the historic 5/8-mile Eureka Downs track, is preparing for a revival after more than a decade of silence.

Funding for the comeback will be supported by 1,000 Historic Horse Racing (HHR) machines opening December 15 at Gilley’s Casino in Wichita. Two percent of proceeds will go toward operations, while one percent will help restart the Kansas Bred Program.

The Greenwood County Fair Board has enlisted veteran racing official Mike Weiss to collaborate with breed groups and oversee the effort to bring the track back to life.

Weiss noted the scale of the project: “When racing stopped in 2009, most of the buildings, barns, and offices were abandoned. There is a lot of work to be done. Millions of dollars are being invested into the racing surface a l one.”

Plans are underway for a short fall meet in 2026, featuring strong purses and a mix of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing. The meet could run anywhere from 10 to 16 days, pending application approval.

Weiss emphasized the vision for the future: “Together we are creating a plan to make things bigger, brighter, and better every year. We will bring this park back to life— turning the fairgrounds into a palace that Kansas will be proud of. Kansas racing will be back, it’s going to be grand and everyone will be saying, Eureka—I found it!”

For updates and more information, visit KansasHorseCouncil.com, KSQHRA.com and KansasThoroughbred. Org.