2028 Olympic Games committee drops Temecula's Galway Downs as prospective venue for equestrian events
Just days after announcing that Galway Downs in Temecula was being floated as a prospective venue for equestrian events in the 2028 Olympic Games, event planners suddenly changed course, drawing the ire of Riverside County leaders.
"I'm deeply disappointed to learn that Galway Downs is reportedly no longer LA28's proposed host site for equestrian events at the 2028 Olympic Games," said Congressman Darrell Issa, who represents the area. "At this time, a satisfactory reason has yet to be offered."
He was one of many county leaders who penned a letter to express their profound support for the decision, which was announced by Los Angeles City Council members at the end of March.
"This abrupt move appears arbitrary, unwarranted and our community deserves a clear explanation of the process that led to this change," Issa further said. "It must be said that for several years, the state-of-the-art facility at Galway Downs, the city of Temecula and the Riverside County community have prepared to host these important events and showcase the very best that all three have to offer."
Issa was joined in the letter by fellow Congressman Ken Calvert, Senator Kelly Seyarto, County Supervisor Chuck Washington, Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez and Temecula City Council member Matt Rahn.
Their letter referred to the "especially deep roots" that equine culture has in the Temecula Valley, as well as the sprawling grounds that Galway Downs present for not only equestrian events, but also a litany of other purposes.
"Significant investments in time, material and preparation have already been dedicated to serving as the host site, and Galway Downs is the only equestrian venue in the greater Los Angeles region with the existing infrastructure to accommodate all equestrian events, including a full-length cross-country course," Issa's statement said. "I look forward to productive and informative conversations and a more comprehensive, transparent process that provides fundamental fairness to Galway Downs and unifies our Southern California community."
The decision was met with disappointment by many throughout the Inland Empire, including the owners of the venue.
"We are extremely surprised that we were suddenly removed from consideration. We don't understand how, based on the March 28 City Council's vote of approval, that this could happen," said Galway Downs owner Ken Smith. "When we started this process more than four years ago, we understood the equestrian venue selection for LA28 would be a highly competitive, evolving process. Being selected as the proposed equestrian venue put Galway Downs and Temecula Valley on the world stage. We're very proud of that, and we're just getting started. Galway Downs will continue to host elite national and international competitions as well as additional sporting events."
Opened in 1968, Galway Downs is a massive venue that boasts more than 240 acres of trails, pastures, 14 arenas, a one-mile round track, and stalls to house 400 horses. On top of it's ability to function as a top-tier equestrian venue, Galway Downs also hosts dozens of weddings, sporting tournaments and various other events throughout the course of the year.
