Equestrian events nixed in Lake County

The selection of Chicago as the 2016 Olympic host would have had an impact north in the bucolic fields of Lake County.

But Friday's news that the local bid was dropped in the first round deflated and shocked about 50 observers gathered for what they thought would be a celebration at a private residence on the grounds of Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek.

Tempel, the venerable home to the largest privately owned herd of Lipizzan horses in the world, had been pegged as the site of the games' equestrian events.

A $16 million, 18,000-seat stadium would have come with the award. An equine veterinary clinic also was a possibility as a legacy after the Olympics.

"I don't even know what to say because I didn't think it (the decision) would be that fast," said Laurens Leffingwell Jr., grandson of steel magnate Tempel Smith, who founded the renowned facility just west of the Tri-State Tollway in 1959.

The farm hosts competitions and features training, breeding and dressage facilities. It also has held clinics featuring Olympians Michelle Gibson and Bruce Davidson.

"We're a world class horse facility," Leffingwell said. "If Chicago had it, we were kind of the no-brainer to host it."

He said half the facilities already were in place, and planning and other work for the stadium would have begun immediately.

The Lake County Convention & Visitors Bureau had predicted a boon to the county. An estimated 45,000 people would have come to Tempel Farms for 13 days of competition, generating as much as $14 million for the local economy, according to Maureen Riedy, president of the bureau. That estimate did not include the Paralympics' events.

Hotels had also committed nearly 4,000 rooms, totaling 68,000 room nights, and translating to another $25 million for lodging, meals and other entertainment.

Leffingwell didn't want to speculate on the reason for Chicago's early elimination.

"I was shocked by that," he said. "I have no idea. I'm perplexed by the whole thing."

Tempel was announced as the Olympic Equestrian Complex in April 2008. It replaced the Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda as the proposed venue. That proposal generated considerable local opposition regarding the proposed environmental impact.