Gilley’s Gambling Hall Celebrates Historic Return of Live Horse Racing to Kansas
Historical Horse Racing at Gilley’s provides critical funding to help rebuild the state’s racing and breeding industries
PARK CITY, Kan. — September 28, 2026 — For the first time since 2008, live horse racing is returning to Kansas, and Gilley’s Gambling Hall in Park City is proud to have played an important role in bringing the sport back to the state.
Six days of live racing are scheduled at Eureka Downs in Eureka, Kansas, over three consecutive weekends: October 17–18, October 24–25 and October 31–November 1, 2026. The fall meet will mark an important milestone in the revitalization of Kansas horse racing, and the beginning of what industry leaders hope will become a growing annual racing schedule.
Eureka Downs is owned by the Greenwood County Fair Association, a volunteer fair board rather than a private corporation. Volunteerism has long been essential to the success of county-fair racing in Kansas, and the Fair Association’s members have carried that tradition forward in the work required to restore the track.
“This is an exciting and historic moment for Kansas,” said Kevin Allis, director of marketing at Gilley’s Gambling Hall. “Live horse racing has deep connections to our state’s agricultural heritage, and its return creates opportunities that extend far beyond the racetrack. Gilley’s is proud to be part of the effort that made this possible and to help build a sustainable future for racing, breeding, and the many Kansas businesses and communities that can benefit from their growth.”
Racing in Eureka dates to 1872, when a track was built south of town. The course was relocated to the Greenwood County Fairgrounds in 1902 and opened its first season at the present site in 1903, with Thoroughbred and harness racing. That origin predates Churchill Downs, which opened in 1875.
Today Eureka Downs is widely described as the oldest surviving racetrack west of the Mississippi. The Fair Association later added a 440-yard straightaway for American Quarter Horse racing in 1962; the original grandstand burned in 1964 and was replaced. For generations, much of the labor that kept the track running came from volunteers, funded by entry fees, concessions, stable fees, and tickets.
The return of live racing is supported by revenue generated through hundreds of Historical Horse Racing machines at Gilley’s. Historical Horse Racing, or HHR, allows guests to wager on previously run horse races presented in an entertaining gaming format. Under Kansas law, a portion of HHR revenue is directed toward live racing operations and the redevelopment of the Kansas-bred horse program.
That ongoing funding provides a foundation for rebuilding an industry that had largely disappeared from Kansas. It can help support race purses, track operations, horse breeding, and ownership while encouraging additional private investment throughout the state.
The economic impact is expected to reach well beyond racing itself. A revitalized horse industry can create opportunities for breeders, trainers, jockeys, veterinarians, farriers, feed suppliers, farmers, transportation companies, and other agricultural and small-business partners. Live race meets can also attract visitors who spend money at area hotels, restaurants, retailers, and other local businesses.
Significant work and investment have already gone into preparing Eureka Downs for the return of racing, including improvements to its racing surface and supporting infrastructure. The six-day fall meet represents an important first step toward restoring Kansas as an active part of the regional horse-racing industry.
“Gilley’s represents more than a new entertainment destination,” Allis said. “It is an investment in Park City, the Wichita region, and the future of Kansas racing. Every day, HHR activity at Gilley’s is helping generate the resources needed to put horses back on the track, strengthen the Kansas-bred program, and create new economic activity across the state. We are excited about these first six race days, but we are even more excited about what they can lead to in the years ahead.”
The return of racing also reflects the persistence of the Ruffin family and Kansas horse-industry advocates, who worked for years to establish the HHR funding model and create a viable path for live racing to resume at a track whose roots reach back more than 150 years.
Gilley’s embraces that connection to horse racing throughout its Park City property. Its second-floor Trackside venue offers simulcast horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering throughout the year, giving racing fans a place to follow races from across the country in a setting designed around the excitement and tradition of the sport.
The 2026 Eureka Downs live racing dates are:
“This is the start of a new chapter,” Allis added. “Kansas once again has live horse racing, and everyone at Gilley’s is proud to celebrate its return.”
For more information about Gilley’s Gambling Hall and Trackside, visit PlayGilleys.com.
About Gilley’s Gambling Hall
Located at 1500 E. 77th Street North in Park City, Kansas, Gilley’s Gambling Hall is a premier gaming, dining, and entertainment destination serving the Wichita region. The completely smoke-free property features hundreds of gaming machines, simulcast horse racing at Trackside, live entertainment, dining, sports viewing, and other attractions.
Media Contact:
Scott McClure, Brush Art / Gilley’s Gambling Hall
636-443-9660 I scottm@brushart.com