Ranch near Tri-Cities accused of illegal horse racing. Gambling agents search property

State and federal agents and local law enforcement are looking into a suspected illegal horse racing operation at a ranch northeast of Burbank.

A search warrant was served Tuesday morning as part of the investigation that has lasted more than two years.

No one was arrested during Tuesday’s warrant service, said Walla Walla County sheriff’s Chief Deputy Richard Schram.

He told the Tri-City Herald that the ranch is off Monument Drive, in the rural area of Burbank between Highway 124 and the Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River.

The investigation is being led by the Washington State Gambling Commission, with assistance from the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office, Walla Walla Police Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Agents developed information that a ranch near Burbank was being used for horse racing that included accepting illegal wagers, along with other suspected illegal gambling on site,” according to a news release from the state gambling commission.

Kevin McCarty, an agency spokesman, told the Herald that he can’t release any more details at this time because there is more work to be done as part of the investigation.

A joint news release from the gambling commission and sheriff’s office thanked “partner agencies who helped to take action and safely complete this warrant service.”

The only legal live racing track in the Tri-Cities area is the Sun Downs race track at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick.

Also, a couple days a year there’s horse racing at the track at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds in Walla Walla.

This story was originally published October 27, 2021 at 12:54 PM.