Wyoming Downs Breaks Ground on $80 Million Historical Horse Racing Venue Near Colorado Border, Targets Spring 2027 Opening

Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing have broken ground on an $80 million gaming and entertainment facility in southern Laramie County, the companies announced, kicking off the flagship project in a $180 million statewide expansion program. The 58,000-square-foot venue is located east of Interstate 25 at Exit 2, near the Colorado border, and is scheduled to welcome guests in spring 2027.

The development is a joint venture between ECL Entertainment, Clairvest, and Wyoming-based WERCS (307 First). The Laramie County location is positioned to draw visitors from across the Wyoming-Colorado state line — placing it within easy driving distance of northern Colorado communities that currently lack access to historical horse racing gaming machines, which are not legal in Colorado.

What Bettors Can Expect at the Venue

The new facility will feature approximately 600 historical horse racing terminals, simulcast horse race wagering, and multiple dining options. The entertainment anchor is described as Wyoming’s largest TV wall, built into a stadium-style bar area designed to broadcast major sporting events year-round. The combination of gaming, dining, and sports viewing makes the venue more of a destination than a traditional horse racing facility.

Historical horse racing machines allow players to wager on randomly selected past horse races, with outcomes determined by a pari-mutuel process applied to real historical race results. The format has expanded rapidly in recent years across states including Virginia and Kentucky, where it generates revenue that flows into horse racing purse funds. Wyoming legalized HHR machines as part of its broader approach to supporting the state’s horse racing industry, and the Wyoming Downs expansion represents one of the largest investments in the state’s gaming history.

Part of a Larger Investment

The Laramie County project is one of two $80 million flagship venues in the broader program. A second facility is planned for Evanston in Uinta County, near the Utah border on Interstate 80, with construction expected to begin in early 2027. Additional investments include smaller venue renovations and new Lucky 7’s gaming locations elsewhere in Wyoming. The full $180 million investment program is projected to create approximately 300 jobs and generate millions of dollars in annual out-of-state visitor spending. Wyoming bettors who also wager online can check out available sports betting options in their state separately from the land-based gaming expansion.