After more than half a century, Pony Express Days, Nevada's longest continuous horse-racing event, is drawing up its reins here forever.
"We just can't get enough horses to put on a quality racing event," Chairman Jack Smith said. "We're getting fewer and fewer from Utah every year."Southern Utah is the source of most of the horses that run in the Ely races, and Smith said potential entrants want more purse money to make the drive to eastern Nevada.
But the Ely Elks Lodge Pony Express Days Committee has lost more than $17,000 in the past five years, including $9,000 this year.
The Elks also have invested about $200,000 on barns, new roofs, fencing, concession stands, a parimutuel building, a bar and lounge and a new public address system.
Smith said the drop in attendance and fewer volunteers helped fuel the decision to corral the horse races.
Money problems are not new to the event, which had its first run in July 1934.
Ranchers and business people from Ely struggled with it until 1950 when the meet was rained out and the committee went broke.
Various clubs and organizations tried to keep the races alive for the next three years until the Elks took it over in 1954.
Smith said the Elks realize the importance of Pony Express Days to the associated fair, barbecue and the Lions Club chuck-wagon breakfast.
"We plan to keep the organization for some other activity," he said.
This year's mud bog and truck pullout sponsored by the White Pine Chamber of Commerce drew a good crowd. If the races aren't held in the future, Smith said the track surface could be used for similar events.