FORT PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – After being canceled this year (2019), horse racing will probably be back in South Dakota next year.

Fort Pierre race track manager Shane Kramme (cray-me) says the South Dakota Commission on Gaming has approved the Verendrye Benovolent Association’s request to hold horse races Oct. 3 and 4, 2020. But, he says the races will be one weekend instead of two; will be held in the fall rather than the spring; and will only be held in Fort Pierre. In previous years, races were held over four weekends, two each in Fort Pierre and Aberdeen.

Kramme says there will be about a dozen Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred races over the two days offering around $110,000 in prize money.

Neither Fort Pierre nor Aberdeen hosted horse races this year due to lack of funding, wet weather and several other considerations.