A London-based group said that it is interested in Las Vegas for a horse street race and has had "preliminary talks with local officials as well as those in several other states," according to Mike Brunker of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. City Racing, a sports and entertainment agency, has hinted that Vegas "might be one of the iconic streetscapes organizers are pursuing" for a race. Those organizers include "four serious British businesses," including City Racing. But the logistics of "creating a pop-up racing venue on a city street are daunting." In addition to the five-eighths-of-a-mile course, the races would "require quickly creating and tearing down a 100-meter area behind the starting gate and a 200-meter gallop-out past the finish line, collapsible safety rails, a second barrier to keep fans at a safe distance and timing equipment." City Racing spokesperson Johnno Spence said, "In a push we could be in and out in 24 hours, but 48 hours would be a more comfortable time frame." City Racing Managing Dir Peter Phillips and equine surface specialist Andrews Bowen "came up with the concept as a way of getting new fans interested in the sport." The partnership "aims to host its first street race early next year in a yet-to-be named city in Europe or Asia and probably hold one or two more events" in '19. Spence said that the idea is to "add an event or two each year to eventually create a global racing series patterned after motor racing’s Grand Prix" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 8/3).
