Spokane racetrack may take new turn

AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Spokane County — The decades-long roar of race cars at Spokane Raceway Park may soon be replaced by an auctioneer's voice.

A court-appointed receiver who controls the property — which closed in October after a third season of operation under a receiver — is seeking permission to hire a national marketing firm and an auctioneer to sell the 600-acre racetrack.

It now appears the track's future hinges on who buys the property and whether the new owner believes continued operation of the motorsports facility — in need of significant updating — is the best use of the land.

A single purchaser could immediately sell off portions of the mile-square site.

Potential buyers include Spokane County, at least two business groups representing racing enthusiasts, and the Kalispel Tribe, which operates an adjoining casino.

The tribe already owns 290 acres in Airway Heights. Kent Caputo, chief operating officer of the Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority, said the tribe is interested in buying "some portions" of the land. Within five years, Caputo said, the casino is scheduled to be expanded into a $250 million complex.

Spokane County, meanwhile, just listed the property as one of 10 potential sites for a new jail.

But Mark Richard, chairman of the board of county commissioners, said there is "substantial public interest" in retaining a racing-complex on the site. To explore that option, commissioners authorized spending $30,000 to hire a consulting firm.

Excluding land-use and zoning issues, Richard said, the fate of the racing park has generated a lot of public interest.

Richard said he's personally not interested in seeing the county become the owner of the racing complex and hopes a private buyer can be found.