When you sign and share this petition, you are telling the world to get the horses back to Horsepark now. The Board and staff need to know that we are still growing our base of support and we are in it for the long haul.

ACTION: ON MARCH 9, 1:30pm PST, the Fairgrounds Board will meet via ZOOM. Horsepark is item 5A. We look forward to the Horsepark Committee recommending the board approve the drafting and issuance of an RFP at this meeting. Participants can send emails to the board at doleary@sdfair.com and sign up to speak on item 5A.

Sponsors and Horse Show/Stable Operators are ready! At least three experienced equestrian operators intend to submit proposals to lease and manage Horsepark.

Each potential Horsepark leasee/operator has access to the capital, discounts, sponsorships, and fundraising opportunities to make Horsepark both profitable and a world-class equestrian sports venue. The 22nd DAA as a governmental agency does not have access to these fundraising opportunities for many reasons.

On the Water Front:  On March 5, 2021, Tory Walker, an expert water engineering consultant, issued his preliminary findings for Del Mar Horsepark:

• Horsepark already has significant infrastructure that protects the San Dieguito River Valley waterways.
• Existing infrastructure greatly reduces the costs of upgrades to meet current water quality regulations to a maximum of $4M--far below the previous $6-8M estimate in December, 2020. 

Friends of Del Mar Horsepark funded this independent review to assist the 22nd DAA Board in finding cost-effective solutions to bringing storm water drainage in full compliance (https://gofund.me/3278529f).Here are some highlights from Tory Walker’s report:

“…The extensive infrastructure already in place at Horsepark does much presently to protect water quality in the San Dieguito River Valley. With all wash racks already tied directly into the City of San Diego’s sanitary sewer system, it appears that no non-stormwater discharges currently leave the site; additionally, many of the roofs on the permanent stabling side of the Horsepark have downspouts that drain directly to the large swale that conveys offsite storm flows through the site…With extensive infrastructure already in place, opportunities likely exist to optimize and enhance the Horsepark’s water quality strategies as a Medium CAFO (499 horses max.) for significantly less cost than without this infrastructure already in place…Noting again that I have not prepared an opinion of probable cost, I do think, based on the above opinions and my 35+ years of practicing civil engineering, that implementation of the phased optimized plan for a Medium CAFO should not in any case exceed $4M, and I recommend the 22nd DAA engage Fuscoe (if they have not already done so) to evaluate feasible alternatives and estimated costs of those alternatives.”

In addition, the San Diego Regional Water Board issued an Executive Officer’s report on February 10, 2021 that notes Horsepark’s last water complaint, which the 22nd DAA fixed, was on August 22, 2007, and “The San Diego Water Board has not found any recent violations at the Horse Park nor received any recent reports of violations.”

Sponsors Ready, Horse Show/Stable Operators Ready, Water Board Ready--Where’s the Fairgrounds Board?

We now know about the extent of the water protection infrastructure. The sponsors backing the horse show potential leases are ready. The water board is working together with the 22nd DAA planning staff on requirements. Now all that we need is the Board decision to issue an RFP for a lease operator. 

Thank you for your support. Please share this petition and join us in getting horses back to Horsepark.