05/03/07 Idaho horse racing season

They're at the post, the flag is up, and the Idaho horse racing season is underway. Most people think with the opening of Boise's Les Bois Park on Friday is the beginning of the horse racing season. Actually it started a couple of weeks ago in Emmett. Gem County track manager Kathy Black. BLACK "It's a really good place for them to get their first out on the horses. We have a lot of two year olds that will get their first state here and run their first races." Emmett has kicked off the Idaho racing season every spring since 1950 and it remains a favorite with owners, trainers and fans. BLACK "It's kind of like family for everybody. All the horsemen get together, they all know each other and they're eager to get started." And for those two weekends of racing in Emmett this year, something new; a major sponsor is offering an incentive to quarter horse owners. BLACK "For the futurity this year Dutch Masters III in Jerome has put up 25 thousand dollars for the horse that can win a triple crown and we are the first leg of it so it makes it a little more exciting for the quarter horse futurity runners." The other two legs of the quarter horse futurity will be run in Jerome and Blackfoot. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott