Turfway Park dropping Major series and dates

[elnutsmalljaws]

Turfway Park announced today that it is dropping the Kentucky Cup Series from its fall schedule plus eliminating all Wednesday racing as well for the fall meet. Another reason that VTL's and other gaming had better get approved in this state before ALL of our Live Racing is gone. Even the immortal Keeneland is cutting dates, Churchill is in trouble, Ellis Park in bad shape, Turfway in bad shape. I don't vote, never voted and never will vote but those that are running the asylum had better do something and do it fast before there is nothing left except Derby Day at Churchill and 6 weeks at Keeneland around the sales.

[Grumpy]

"I don't vote, never voted and never will vote"

Woody you just expalined why there is a problem, not just in KY but all over the United States.

Grumpy

[redneckshadrap]

Well there goes our racing in Ky other than Keeneland and Churchill. We race there mostly in the winter. Indiana Downs here we come....

[Grumpy]

Don't kid yourself, if the slide continues Keenland and Churchill will also go under. Yes, even the KY Derby could go. Its just a matter of time.

Grumpy

[know1]

What rubs me the wrong way about casinos at the racetracks is that ONLY the racetracks will be able to have them.

If gambling at casinos is OK for people to do, why not allow anyone who can meet some basic regulations open one?

[DJD]

Don't kid yourself, if the slide continues Keenland and Churchill will also go under. Yes, even the KY Derby could go. Its just a matter of time.

Grumpy

That would be sad since it's such a big part of Kentucky. I would rather watch paint dry than watch a horse race.....I'm just not a fan of the sport but I understand how important it is here.

I'm more into cars, motorcycles and boats that go fast and produce serious horsepower but thats just me.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Churchill Downs will not go anywhere for the Derby is the BIGGEST single race in North America and certainly in the top 5 in the world. If Pimilico can survive with pretty much the Preakness then Churchill will survive but on a limited schedule. Keeneland will NEVER go anywhere because it still holds Sales in January, April, September and November. The latter 3 are some of the biggest in the world and has the BEST stock in the world. Plus the tradition, what is left of it, is pretty much as big as it gets at Churchill and Keeneland - Add Saratoga to the mix and these 3 have the most tradition than any other track. Ellis Park and Turfway does not have this same luxury and are in REAL danger.

As far as why would Kentucky only tie Casinos to Horse tracks the answer is THE HORSE INDUSTRY. The people that run the state surely know how big the overall horse industry is in Kentucky and also know how many powerful and RICH people they would make mad if they ever voted in Casinos and did not tie them to the Horse Industry. Plus, by only putting them at Horse tracks they can regulate and manage them "somewhat" versus a private ownership.

[Tim_T]

I could be wrong about this because I am going off memory, but I thought I heard that they can add them to horse tracks by a simple vote, but if they try to put them elsewhere it would require a state constitutional ammendment. Is this true?

[zx150]

What is that yap's name in Burksville? Someone needs to find a way to get him to vote yes. If the State starts to loose money from the horse revenue then that will put this state in a bigger hole. In my opinion Burksville should be the first place to take a hit on the tax cut.

[Tim_T]

What is that yap's name in Burksville? Someone needs to find a way to get him to vote yes. If the State starts to loose money from the horse revenue then that will put this state in a bigger hole. In my opinion Burksville should be the first place to take a hit on the tax cut.

David Williams of Burkesville, not sure why those folks in his district keep electing him.

[mhall]

David Williams of Burkesville, not sure why those folks in his district keep electing him.

A Bumbling moron.

[RoadToad]

What rubs me the wrong way about casinos at the racetracks is that ONLY the racetracks will be able to have them.

If gambling at casinos is OK for people to do, why not allow anyone who can meet some basic regulations open one?

Politics. Actually, the original proposal was for casinos not just at tracks, but a limited number elsewhere.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...ory?id=3265800
Mr. David Williams, the esteemed President of the Kentucky State Senate, has singlehandedly blocked that, and every proposal since. He and his followers call it "expanded gambling in Kentucky," and think that if you allow casinos in Kentucky, next thing you know, Burkesville is going to look like Las Vegas, with all the prostitution, alcohol, drugs, and other things that stupid people with money do. For them, allowing casinos only at racetracks, which are already dens of iniquity, might be more palatable. So the thinking now is that having casinos only at racetracks is the only proposal that has a snowball's chance of passing.