OUR MISSION
Our mission is to create a world-class, state of the art racetrack and equestrian center and develop 300+ acres into an amazing regional recreational destination. This development is ideally located in eastern Laramie County along I-80, out in “horse country.” We are doing this for the horsemen and women, the equine athletes, the jockeys, the breeders, owners, trainers, and all the people who support horse racing in Wyoming. We are assembling a team of industry experts and track specialists to utilize the most up-to-date technology and engineering to build the first full-size racetrack in Wyoming with safety as the highest priority.
A strong partnership;
a shared commitment
As we build our first-class racing and training facility outside of Cheyenne, we’re proud to have the partnership of 1/ST—North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company.
In addition to our shared commitment to horse and rider safety and operational integrity, 1/ST will provide its industry-leading safety and integrity expertise on operational-related design issues during the design and construction process of Thunder Plains Park.
MEET WILL & RYAN
Ryan Clement and Will Edwards are the entrepreneurs behind Thunder Plains Park. Ryan and Will have deep Wyoming roots. Their Grandparents were very close friends and business associates; Dr. Frank Barrett and Ned Murray owned land on adjacent parcels north of Cheyenne, and whether it was ranching, or real estate, Frank and Ned were often working together. Will and Ryan’s parents grew up together and attended Cheyenne Central High School and the University of Wyoming.
It took a serendipitous meeting at a local restaurant about a year ago that brought the 5th-generation Wyomingites back together to begin dreaming about bringing a world-class racetrack to Laramie County.
The guys know and love our western heritage and set out to learn as much as they could about the Wyoming horse racing industry. What they have discovered is a rich history of racing stretching back to pre-statehood. They also quickly found that there are no standard-size tracks in the state. The more they travelled the state and met with Wyoming horsemen, it became clear that a standard mile-long track and dedicated equestrian center is what the industry needs to take the next step toward national relevance.
For Ryan and Will, this endeavor has become a true labor of love. The opportunity to bring an economic development powerhouse and a state-of-the-art horse track to Laramie County will be a dream come true.
MEET RYAN CLEMENT
Ryan attended the University of Miami on a football scholarship after a stellar high school career at Denver’s Mullen High School, where he won the prestigious Denver Post Gold Helmet award. Ryan led the Hurricanes for 3 years as the starting quarterback and played with the likes of Ray Lewis, Warren Sapp, Reggie Wayne and Edgerrin James among many other greats. He graduated from the University of Miami school of law in 2005. Ryan moved back to his hometown of Cheyenne, Wyoming, in June of 2020 and opened Dillinger’s bar in downtown. He plans on re-establishing Dillinger’s in new OTB locations affiliated with Thunder Plains Park. Ryan and his wife live in Cheyenne with their three children.
MEET WILL EDWARDS
Will was born and raised in Cheyenne, graduated from Cheyenne Central High School, and then from the University of Wyoming with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Finance. Will went on to earn his juris doctorate and is currently licensed to practice law in Wyoming, California, and Colorado. Will grew up in the construction industry and has worked in land development in this region for over 15 years.
OVERALL VISION
Celebrate Wyoming! The overall vision for this project is a dream scenario that contemplates a 20+ year build-out of Thunder Plains Park, bringing together our western heritage with equestrian facilities and western-themed activities. Everything included with this overall vision illustrate examples of how OTB revenues can be directly reinvested back into the community.
NO TAXPAYER DOLLARS NEEDED
Thunder Plains Park is privately owned and privately funded. The developers are not seeking one cent of taxpayer money but, in fact, are committed to making substantial investments into public infrastructure such as paving county roads. We feel that this vision, in its location, will be a wonderful attraction and economic driver that celebrates Wyoming and our western heritage for generations to come.