Change at top a boost for race

Dean Juipe

Friday, June 25, 2004 | 9:43 a.m.

The Las Vegas Marathon may have been guilty of stagnating in recent years, with flat purses and declining registration.

But that will change in 2005, following the purchase of the race by a Chicago businessman from race director Al Boka of Las Vegas.

Boka, who has been retained as the race's executive director, said incoming owner Chris Devine will provide an influx of money and accessories that will upgrade the quality of the race.

"He's going to make this a major-league event," Boka said Thursday.

"We're talking 'big time' here.

"He agrees with my philosophy that this should be the No. 1 marathon in the country."

Next year's Las Vegas Marathon is scheduled for Jan. 30 and will offer a purse of $100,000, with $25,000 going to each of the men's and women's winners.

Devine, a running advocate and multifaceted businessman, added Las Vegas to his stock of marathons June 14 when it was announced he had purchased the race from Boka for "an undisclosed" price. Devine has not yet commented publicly on the purchase of the Las Vegas race.

Devine, who is partners with Bruce Buzil in Devine Racing L.L.C., also owns the Salt Lake City Marathon (which debuted this year), the Toronto Marathon and the Chicago Half-Marathon.

He is a former owner of the Chicago Marathon and is also bidding on another major West Coast marathon that he expects to acquire.

Boka said he and Devine had been in negotiations for "five or six months" prior to reaching an agreement.

Boka gained title to the Las Vegas Marathon 22 years ago and has operated it since, surviving largely on limited sponsorships. He admitted to losing money on this year's marathon.

"Chris Devine has rescued the Las Vegas Marathon," Boka said. "He stepped in at just the right time.

"He wants to put together a network of marathons, with Las Vegas as the focal point."

Boka said next year's race, the 39th in an annual series, will likely be run on its familiar Jean-to-Sunset Park course but will add entertainment venues and amenities on the route.

"The real goal is to get the race started on the Strip by 2006," Boka said, pointing to a route that would begin near the Luxor, pass through downtown and finish at Sunset Park.

Such a race has been proposed countless times in the past but has yet to be embraced by the various government entities that would have to approve it.

"Chris has a lot of connections and contacts with major sponsors, and I think he'll be able to get some things done," Boka said, adding a potential television link with Fox Sports Net was being discussed.

He also said NASCAR is poised to announce that a number of its drivers -- specifically Kyle Petty and Michael Waltrip -- would take part in next year's Las Vegas Marathon. Petty ran the half-marathon here this year and will run the full marathon in '05, as will Waltrip; assorted other drivers will run the half-marathon in '05 as part of a fund-raising effort for a NASCAR-sponsored children's charity.