issue loading model in library

[eluser]gscharlemann[/eluser]
I've added a new library to my application, but I'm getting a call to member function on non-object error:
Call to a member function get_saved_races() on a non-object

Here's the new library:

Code:

class Races
{

    function Races()
    {
        $this->ci =& get_instance();
    }
    
    function get_saved_races($user_id) {
        $this->ci->load->model('race_model', 'race');
        return $this->race->get_saved_races($user_id);
    }
}

I've tried this as well with no luck:

Code:

function get_saved_races($user_id) {
        $this->ci->load->model('race_model');
        return $this->race_model->get_saved_races($user_id);
    }

I've been playing with CI long enough I thought I could figure it out, but after multiple searches and over an hour of being stuck I'm getting frustrated. Thanks for any insight.