Kentucky racing 'in serious jeopardy'

May 20, 2009

Under the backdrop of an empty paddock at Churchill Downs, officials of Kentucky racetracks--including The Red Mile's president and CEO Joe Costa--gathered for a press conference Wednesday afternoon to plead their case for expanded gaming in the Bluegrass State.

In making his comments at the Louisville track which was closed Wednesday for live racing after a request to cut one day from its weekly schedule was granted by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Costa noted that Standardbred racing "is the canary in the coal mine," noting that between The Red Mile, Thunder Ridge and Player's Bluegrass Downs there are just 76 days of live harness racing in the state in 2009.

Costa used a college basketball analogy in comparing Kentucky's plight against neighboring states which have expanding gaming at its tracks. Costa posed the question to the crowd of about 150--which included major media outlets from across the state including Lousville and Lexington and several horsemen including Bernard "Chip" Wooley, the trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and veteran trainer Bernard Flint--that universities such as the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky would not be able to compete on the basketball court if they were unable to offer scholarships as schools such as Duke, North Carolina and Kansas are.

Bob Evans, president of Churchill Downs, bluntly stated, "If you think it's bad now, it's only going to get worse." Evans then added, "The time to act is now. We simply can�t wait any longer. All we are looking for is to pass a simple piece of legislation."

Keeneland president Nick Nicholson said, "This industry is unified as perhaps it's never been, and we're in serious jeopardy if no action takes place."

The tracks are hoping a special legislative session is called by Gov. Steve Beshear to discuss expanding gaming. Later this month budget projections will be announced and the tracks believe substantial revenue would be raised for the state with the the offering of expanded gaming.

From the crowd, Flint made an impassioned plea on behalf of the Thoroughbred horsemen to unite for expanded gaming, saying he's not going to let Kentucky racing die without a fight. Wooley added, "Horse racing has to have casinos, that's the only way then can compete."

Also, Costa said this could be the last year of a two-night Quarter Horse meet at The Red Mile, saying that the track's ownership group is considering eliminating the short session in 2010.

"We're looking at real estate development as a substitute for revenue; we're looking at everything," Costa told harnessracing.com shortly after the conference ended. "It's like you are at the kitchen table looking at the budget--what can we do without?"

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