A recent FBI and ICE raid at a horse track in Wilder, Idaho, resulted in five arrests and over 100 detentions related to immigration offenses, sparking concern and confusion within the local horse racing community. Participants and longtime insiders describe these events as family-oriented cultural gatherings centered around quarter horse racing, featuring music, children, and a picnic-like atmosphere. Edward McNelis, a horse racing veteran, emphasized that these races are traditional, non-sanctioned match races primarily involving Hispanic horse owners, with gambling being a secondary activity.

The scale and nature of the law enforcement operation have puzzled many in the community, who view the raid as unprecedented and traumatic for families attending what they considered routine cultural events. While the FBI suggested the Wilder event involved organized, cross-state gambling, community members expressed distress over the heavy-handed response, highlighting the longstanding tradition and social significance of these gatherings.