Racing people fight against the slots.

Kentucky tracks unite against threat from slots


USA: In an unprecedented display of unity, six of Kentucky's racetracks on Wednesday staged a joint news conference at Churchill Downs to publicise the precarious state of racing in the heartland of the sport and to appeal for the legalisation of slot machines.

Eleven of the 12 racing states nearest to Kentucky allow gaming at their racetracks, resulting in bigger purses and more generous breeders' prizes.

Kentucky, which describes itself as the horse capital of the world, is struggling to compete.

Nick Nicholson, Keeneland's chief executive, said: "We are in serious jeopardy and, if no action takes place and we lose our racing circuit and the prominence of our breeding industry, we do not want anyone to be surprised."

Churchill Downs chief executive Bob Evans pointed out that, normally, on a Wednesday, there would be racing but a shortage of runners had led to the scrapping of Wednesday fixtures.

Evans warned: "If you think it is bad now, it is only going to get worse. As time goes on, slot subsidised purses are going to pull more horsemen out of Kentucky.

"The time to act is now," Evans added.

"We can't wait any longer. Even after legislation is passed it will take time to get slots operating; meanwhile the barn door has been left open and we are finding our horses in other states."

Ellis Park, situated near the border with Indiana, has cut its summer programme from 48 days to 23 and is in serious danger of closing, while Turfway Park's position is also parlous.

Ron Geary, the owner of Ellis Park, highlighted the relatively huge purses available at Hoosier Park and Indiana Downs, in neighbouring Indiana, each newly equipped with 2,000 slot machines.

He said: "Hoosier Park has purses of $225,000 a day and Hoosier Park $250,000. In the past, we have relied on Indiana horsemen and, this year, they all stayed in Indiana. Without legislative assistance, racing at Ellis Park will come to a conclusion at the end of this summer."

Bob Elliston, chief executive of Turfway Park, the first US track to race on polytrack, said: "In the ten years I have been at Turfway Park we have invested over $10 million and we've lost money every year.

"There was a time when, day in, day out, we had strong field sizes. That is no longer the case. At our spring meet we were unable to fill races on multiple occasions.

"The reason is the opportunities for horsemen to earn more money at Presque Isle Downs (a racino in Pennsylvania that opened in 2007) that, overnight, offered $30 million in purses, and at Indiana Downs and Hoosier Park.

"Thirteen of the top 15 trainers at Indiana Downs are based in Kentucky, but they are now racing outside Kentucky. Between now and September we will have to sit down with the horsemen and look at dramatic purse cuts and look at reduced days.

"There are 200 acres here and, if real estate becomes more valuable, well, I don't like to think of it."

Joe Costa, chief executive of The Red Mile, a harness racing track, described a situation of "absolute devastation,"and Corey Johnson, president of Kentucky Downs, an exclusively turf track, explained that they had been forced to reduce their live racing programme from six days to four.

Rick Hiles, speaking on behalf of owners and trainers, warned:"If we lose two or three of our tracks it will affect Churchill Downs enormously.

"Without year-round racing in Kentucky, horsemen will not stay here. I already know of big owners talking of relocating. Mares are already leaving for states with big breeding incentives."

In an impassioned address, Bernie Flint, a prolific winning trainer, said: "This is the best track in the US but the train has passed us by.

"I have 50 people working for me, but this is the end of the road. We have got to stand together."

Speakers urged the necessity of legislation to permit slot machines at Kentucky's racetracks.

Evans said: "The Kentucky thoroughbred industry is out of other viable options. It is time to do the right thing by Kentucky's signature industry.

1. Slots are the beginning of the end for racing. They are a short term fix that will eventually spell the doom of horse racing, as it has already started to do in Canada, where the oldest racetrack in the country, Fort Erie, wants to cease racing activities and just have slots.

2. Churchill Downs is a public company that is only worried about its share prices, not people or horses. They are in a blighted ghetto and their land is not worth much at all, so the threat to sell the place for its land value is hollow.

3. Kentucky is a small state in terms of people and capital. It does not have enough population to support racing on a year round basis.

4. People in Kentucky don't want slots because it destroys the fabric of the community and leads to crime and personal dispair.

5. The state is not out of "other viable options." One option would be to introduce more interesting contests and more interesting bets to encourage more gambling on their product. But they are stuck in the mud and cannot see the forest for the trees.

slots should be kept in casinos not every pub and bar

More effort should be put into trying to transform Horse racing into a "SOCIAL OCASION" to attract new blood..

The irish greyhound authorities done this and their sport is booming atm where the Uk counterparts are toiling..

An enjoyable day/evening out good food,entertainment(live bands,clubs)Stag and hen nights..basically anything to try and attract youngsters/new racegoers

Yes Hibby noticed on my visit, the boxes were all fall of private parties for companies, stag night, hen nights a great vibe, racing is all about having a good social day.

Barry raises some excellent points, but horsemen want the quick fix that slots offer in the form of increased stakes. They want the money now and place little or no importance on the long term effects. Any other method which is implemented to try and boost purses will take so long to bear fruit - if it ever does - that by then the Indiana Derby may be the first leg of the Triple Crown! In other words, Kentucky may have to adopt a if you can't beat them join them mentality.

USA: Proposals to introduce slot machines to shore up Kentucky's beleaguered racetracks have encountered a massive setback after a state senate committee rejected the plan.

According to the Daily Racing Form, legislation passed in Kentucky's House of Representatives on Friday "appeared to be on its way to the dustbin" on Monday night when the senate budget committee turned down the controversial bill.

Kentucky racetracks, headed by Kentucky Derby home Churchill Downs, have waged a PR campaign in favour of the introduction of slots, regarded as the saviour of horse racing in several US states where revenue from them is used to boost purses.

Faced by stiff competition from tracks in neighbouring states where slots are legal, Kentucky tracks have issued dire warnings about a bleak future for racing in America's racing heartland.

Much to their chagrin, on Monday night the bill to pave the way for the introduction of slots was voted down 10-5 by a Republican-dominated committee.

Republicans have largely opposed the bill on party lines fearing it would not appeal to conservative constituents in many rural districts away from racing's bedrock communities, mainly focused in the cities of Louisville and Lexington, which describes itself as the ‘horse capital of the world'.

Speaking in the Louisville Courier-Journal, Churchill Downs spokesman Kevin Flanery suggested the industry is now "in crisis".

Churchill Downs excised seven days from its most recent meeting owing to lack of horses.

Flanery added: "Today's a good day for the racing and breeding industries of West Virginia, the racing and breeding industries of Indiana, Pennsylvania. This is not a good vote for the racing and breeding industry of Kentucky."

House speaker Greg Stumbo, the bill's sponsor, said the issue could surface in a conference committee. "But I don't think it's likely," he added.

Senate president David Williams, who opposes expanded gambling, ruled out any such prospect. He has consistently suggested the slots plan was unlikely to pass the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee.

Turfway Park president Bob Elliston said the track could close by the end of 2010 if nearby Ohio added slots and Kentucky doesn't do the same.

Turfway is already feeling the pinch, having laid off staff and reducing prize-money for its autumn meeting. "I suggest to you that that will be the linchpin for the entire racing circuit in Kentucky to fold up," said Elliston.

The Form reported that the crucial legislation is expected to be resurrected during the general session next year, when constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot.