EVANSTON, Wyo.– Feb. 4, 2026 — Wyoming Horse Racing LLC (WHR) today announced that its major economic development border project, the Horse Palace Gateway, will open on the Wyoming-Utah border in February. Already generating construction spending, the entertainment destination will create new jobs, attract Utah tourism dollars to Wyoming and deliver long-term economic benefits to Uinta County and the state of Wyoming.
“Evanston has always been a gateway community and projects like this $26 million entertainment center will bring real economic momentum,” said Evanston Mayor Kent Williams. “Wyoming Horse Racing’s Horse Palace Gateway will strengthen our identity as a destination where visitors stop to experience our community, support local businesses and return again,”
“With more than 100 new, good-paying jobs coming to Uinta County, and nearly $4 million in estimated tax revenue for city, county and state budgets, Horse Palace Gateway will deliver lasting benefits to our community,” said Uinta County Commission Chair Mark Anderson. “This kind of private investment strengthens our local workforce and creates long-term economic growth for our community.”
Strategically located off Interstate 80 near the state line, the Horse Palace Gateway is the latest WHR border property built to attract out-of-state tourism dollars into Wyoming. Gateway is in its final stages of construction and is scheduled to open in February pending final regulatory approvals.
“The Horse Palace Gateway builds on the success of our flagship Swan Ranch border property on the Wyoming-Colorado border, creating another targeted investment that will produce real, measurable economic gains for the Cowboy State,” said Peter Liguori, Executive Vice President of Wyoming Horse Racing. “We’re excited to welcome more visitors from our neighboring markets like Utah and put those dollars to work in our communities in Wyoming.”
The Horse Palace Gateway is projected to generate approximately $4 million each year for Wyoming’s state, county and city budgets, creating a reliable revenue stream for public services and local infrastructure. In addition to direct taxes, Gateway will annually contribute approximately $1 million each to the Wyoming Breeder Award Fund and annual purses at WHR’s Sweetwater Downs live horse races in Rock Springs. The entertainment center will create more than 100 full and part time jobs as well as the 175 construction jobs it supported during the property’s development.
“Evanston is where my family’s story in Wyoming horse racing began,” said Managing Partner and Sweetwater Downs General Manager Eugene Joyce. “Opening this next chapter in my hometown is very meaningful, and I am proud to be working alongside my friends and neighbors to build an even stronger community together.”
WHR’s success at its Swan Ranch border property on the Wyoming-Colorado border demonstrates the viability of its strategically positioned entertainment destinations. Located just north of the Colorado state line, the Horse Palace Swan Ranch has quickly become a major draw for Front Range visitors seeking a convenient, Wyoming-based entertainment option. Swan Ranch continues to attract new tourism spending, strengthen local businesses and showcase how WHR’s border properties are growing Wyoming’s economy.
Revenues from Historical Horse Racing terminals, off track betting, simulcasting and WHR’s live racing events provide an ongoing boost to Wyoming’s horse industry by growing purse sizes, drawing competition and supporting long-term growth for the state’s agriculture industry, including the breeders, trainers, ranchers, veterinarians and suppliers located across the state.
The Horse Palace Gateway is conveniently located just off exit three on Interstate 80 at 755 Prospector Drive, approximately four miles from the Wyoming-Utah border.
For more information about Wyoming Horse Racing and Horse Palace, visit horsepalace.win/gateway.
Courtesy, Hayley McKee, Wyoming Horse Racing
About Wyoming Horse Racing
WHR builds on a legacy shaped by the Joyce family’s decades-long involvement in the horse racing industry and their commitment to bringing live racing back to Wyoming when the sport had nearly disappeared. Today, WHR operates 11 Horse Palace locations throughout Wyoming and live racing at Sweetwater Downs in Rock Springs, significantly growing the state’s horse industry and meaningfully contributing to Wyoming tax revenues. The company is owned by industry stalwarts Nick Hughes, John Sheldon and Pete Liguori, who have decades of experience in the horse racing, hospitality, and gaming industries. The company prioritizes responsible play, a dedication to horse racing and continued stewardship and investment in the hospitality and agribusiness sectors in Wyoming.
