Winnebago Tribe sees strong turnout for one race at new track

Monday, September 12, 2016  

The racetrack in South Sioux City, Nebraska, held its first and only race of the season on September 10, 2016. Photo by Ho-Chunk Inc

The economic development corporation of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska welcomed a crowd to its new racetrack on Saturday.

Even though the track at the former Atokad Downs in South Sioux City was only open for one race, interest was strong. About 300 people turned out for the event, The Sioux City Journal reported.

"I think we planned for about 250 and we had about 300 hundred giveaway gifts and 300 programs to give out, and we ran out," Alexcia Boggs, a director of development for Ho-Chunk Inc., the tribe's development arm, told the paper.

Ho-Chunk Inc. wants to turn the track into a full-fledged casino. But efforts to put the issue on the November ballot fell short this year.

Ho-Chunk Inc. owns Indianz.Com but the website is not involved in the corporation's activities.

Read More on the Story:
Atokad gallops back into South Sioux City (The Sioux City Journal 9/11)

Winnebago Tribe's track offers race for one day to stay in game (9/9)
Winnebago Tribe becomes first with non-smoking room at casino (08/26)
Referendum to expand gaming in Nebraska fails to qualify for ballot (08/11)
Casino Foe: 'We've subsidized the Indians for hundreds of years' (07/13)
Winnebago Tribe's corporation turns in signatures for gaming vote (7/7)
Winnebago Tribe's corporation collects signatures for gaming vote (06/06)
Winnebago Tribe's corporation wins approval to restart horse races (05/06)
Winnebago Tribe's corporation to revive horse races at former track (03/09)
Winnebago Tribe faces opposition to Nebraska gaming initiative (02/12)
Group fights 'tooth and nail' against gaming initiative in Nebraska (11/02)
Winnebago Tribe corporation raises funds for gaming petition (10/16)
Executive from Winnebago Tribe pushes Nebraska gaming bid (09/25)