KHRC Approves Turfway for Historical Racing

Blood-Horse

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Tuesday, Dec. 1 approved Turfway Park to add historical racing, although track officials did not put a timetable on when such gaming would become reality at the Northern Kentucky track.

Following a presentation from attorney Shannon Arvin—who, speaking on behalf of Turfway, noted that the games the track would offer have all been approved for other tracks in the state—the KHRC approved Turfway’s request for 250 games.

With Gov.-elect Matt Bevin set to take office Dec. 8, Turfway avoided any changes in political winds by putting in its request at the Tuesday meeting. Adam Suliman, business consulting director for Turfway owner Rock Gaming, said the track is still working through the design process of the room that would offer the games.

Suliman didn’t know if the games would be in place at the track in 2016 or not. He said he didn’t want to commit to a date with building contracts still being finalized. Also, Suliman said the track had not reached an agreement with a provider.

Turfway would become the third Kentucky Thoroughbred track to offer on-site the games that look like slot machines but base payouts on a pari-mutuel formula. Historic racing machines are in place at Kentucky Downs, and Ellis Park. Through a joint agreement with the Red Mile, Keeneland offers games at the Lexington Standardbred track.

Turfway officials noted that they have the space to add more machines if they initially fare well.

The only Thoroughbred track in the state that does not offer historical racing, on-site or off-site, is Churchill Downs, which, to date, has opted to see how pending litigation fares before taking any action toward adding the machines.

Also Tuesday, the KHRC approved the addition of 48 games at Ellis Park, which will bring the total number of games at the Henderson, Ky. track to 300.