ELY -- The sport of kings is alive and well and will be coming back to Ely after an absence of several years if the Ely Elks Lodge has anything to say about it.

For nearly 75 years, the annual horse races were a tradition in Ely, coupled with the White Pine County Fair and the 4-H livestock auction.

The tradition of White Pine County horse racing was born in July 1934 and became, over the years, the Pony Express racing meet that ran until 2000. The excitement and thrill of live horse racing and the rush of pounding hooves captivated young and old for over 75 years.

The Elks Lodge, which sponsored the Pony Express race meet after 1954, is heeding the call to bring the races back and is organizing two full days of racing in August.

The last horse races were held in Ely in 2000, and the Elks Lodge, with the cooperation of numerous White Pine County businesses, will revive the race meet Aug. 19-20.

Post time will be 1 p.m. each day, and pari-mutuel betting will be offered along with concessions and a bar.

The lodge hopes to have 10 races each day and a minimum purse of $3,000 for each race.

Sponsorships are still available for the races, and further information may be obtained by calling Race Chairman Ken Kliewer at (775) 289-4491 or the Ely Elks Lodge at 289-4904.