Fonner Park opens meet as historical-racing decision looms

Fonner Park opens for a 31-date meet Friday with a decision looming as to whether historical-racing terminals will be allowed at tracks in Nebraska.

“At this point, we are awaiting the decision from the Nebraska Racing Commission,” Chris Kotulak, the new chief operating officer of Fonner, said Tuesday.

Kotulak said the commission initially approved historical racing in October, but a subsequent letter from the state attorney general’s office led to that action being rescinded. The matter was then taken up anew in January.

“The terminals would be a tremendous boost for the Nebraska Thoroughbred horse-racing industry and Nebraska agriculture,” Kotulak said. “But beyond that, this is not just a Nebraska horse-racing thing. This is a Nebraska thing, an opportunity for gambling revenue dollars and taxes to stay in the state and not cross over into Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and down into Oklahoma.”

For the immediate future, Fonner has a meet to put on, and Kotulak said improvements during the offseason include development of the Skyline Pub, where live music will be featured on Saturdays.

“It will start up around feature-race time,” said Kotulak, adding the idea is to “continue the vibe,” following the races.

Kotulak was hired July 5. He is a former track announcer and television host and said the position was appealing as a Nebraska native with longtime ties to Fonner.

“It was returning to a place that I fell in love with in 1986, when I first started calling races here, and knowing some of the management – like Bruce Swihart, the CEO – was still working here, among other officials and horsemen,” he said.

“Every Saturday, the grandstand is packed with at least 8,000 people. The city of Grand Island and the surrounding region, they really back their races, and that’s a feeling I have always loved to be around – a packed grandstand and people who love their horse racing.”

Kotulak said Fonner will race Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through May 4. The meet’s signature race, the $75,000 Bosselman Pump & Pantry/Gus Fonner, is April 27. It leads a 13-race stakes schedule at Fonner.

Kotulak said perennial leading trainers David Anderson and Marvin Johnson are back for the new meet, as is five-time leading rider Jake Olesiak. Fan favorite World Famous Sam T, a three-time winner of the Grasmick Stakes, which will be renewed Saturday, also is returning this season, said Kotulak.