Slots bill in KY

[BDownes]

Slots bill in KY is dead. Bill didn't get out of the Senate Committee so it never got to the Senate floor.

[Ray]

Slot bill is never dead I have heard this a million times.. to say it's dead means it can never happen ever.. this is not dead it is just delayed again. im sure next chance they get will try and push it thru.. and im sure 1 day the slots people side will out slime the non slot people and it will happen.

[BlueGold75]

For a state that is the horse capitol of the nation, why has their been such a battle over the slot issue?

[BDownes]

Add on Ohio to the states who very well may pass a slots bill. Churchill would have to battle River Downs, Indiana Downs, Mountaineer, and Presque Isle Downs in the summer for horses. Three years ago they only had to worry about Mountaineer! Also, MTR has to write half of their races for 5k where Churchill runs only about 2 or 3 of those a week.

What really is frustrating is the Senate President's plan that will tax out of state wagers on Kentucky races. I am no legal expert but many people say that tax is unconstitutional since it violates the Interstate Commerce Clause in the constitution. Raising takeout makes the whales go elswhere which means less money for the State of Kentucky.

[turfnsport]

Originally Posted by Ray

Slot bill is never dead I have heard this a million times.. to say it's dead means it can never happen ever.. this is not dead it is just delayed again. im sure next chance they get will try and push it thru.. and im sure 1 day the slots people side will out slime the non slot people and it will happen.

Maryland is a good example...It takes time to line all the right pockets.

[fort erie pro]

Originally Posted by BlueGold75

For a state that is the horse capitol of the nation, why has their been such a battle over the slot issue?

how sad is it that the horse capitol of the nation is in need of a slot subsidy to compete? not sure if its a sad commentary on the state of our game or the majority of people in this nation.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by fort erie pro

how sad is it that the horse capitol of the nation is in need of a slot subsidy to compete? not sure if its a sad commentary on the state of our game or the majority of people in this nation.

i dont thikn it has anything to do with the state of the game..it has to do with trying to complete with your neighbors and trying to find away to make up for the horrile economy that we are dealing with. I dont blame them for wanting the slots ..i dont think its desparate i think it's smart.. but I have heard many say that slots are eventually going to be the downfall of racing

[postimetampa]

Originally Posted by Ray

i dont thikn it has anything to do with the state of the game..it has to do with trying to complete with your neighbors and trying to find away to make up for the horrile economy that we are dealing with. I dont blame them for wanting the slots ..i dont think its desparate i think it's smart.. but I have heard many say that slots are eventually going to be the downfall of racing

It is all about being able to compete. If a track can't provide the purses needed for the survival of the horse owners (in general), they will eventually close up shop. If your competition is getting purse subsidies from somewhere and you are not, then chances are you are in trouble.

On the other hand, there are so many tracks "competing" against each other during the summer months that problems are bound to exist. Although I hate to see a track close up shop, the reality is that Ellis, Thistle, Beulah, River are probably not long for this world. Will those tracks closing help racing at other venues? Probably not much. Most likley, the majority of the owners racing at those tracks just decide to close up shop as well.

[BDownes]

Postimetampa... Remember that Beulah runs in the months that most tracks don't. River ends Labor Day. Thistle ends on October 31st. Hoosier ends on October 24th. Presque Isle ends in late September. I don't know what Turfway is going to do with their racing dates going forward with the decision by the Kentucky Senate.

Beulah runs from mid October til Kentucky Derby day.

[bullring]

Conservative Republican posters at Trackchampion have been mightily silent on this issue so far.

This going to put a lot of good people out of work in a sport they love.

[postimetampa]

Originally Posted by BDownes

Postimetampa... Remember that Beulah runs in the months that most tracks don't. River ends Labor Day. Thistle ends on October 31st. Hoosier ends on October 24th. Presque Isle ends in late September. I don't know what Turfway is going to do with their racing dates going forward with the decision by the Kentucky Senate.

Beulah runs from mid October til Kentucky Derby day.

My concern is that the purses at Beulah just cannot support the owners. It's one thing to lose some money, but to basically have no hope of doing anything but bleeding funds profusely...why bother. The way I look at it, the best hope for the sport is to get as many people as possible interested in ownership. If the purses were high enough to give the average person a shot at making a go of things for an extended period, then I think everyone benefits. Without the horses, horseplayers(me included) have nothing to wager on. The horses are the foundation of the sport, and we need people to own them. I gave it serious consideration when I lived in Tampa, and when I really ran the numbers, I put things on hold. I've been considering getting involved in PA with the nice year-round purses now that I've relocated to the northeast.

[alysheba88]

Originally Posted by fort erie pro

how sad is it that the horse capitol of the nation is in need of a slot subsidy to compete? not sure if its a sad commentary on the state of our game or the majority of people in this nation.

agree

[jballscalls]

article here says Ellis will not apply for dates after this year and will close down

Daily Racing Form: News Login/Access Your Account

[BDownes]

Ron Geary isn't bluffing either. He shut down Ellis for a week last year. Dates have been cut from 48 to 23 this year. Slots bill killed.

[turfnsport]

Originally Posted by bullring

Conservative Republican posters at Trackchampion have been mightily silent on this issue so far.

This going to put a lot of good people out of work in a sport they love.

They should have fallen silent about the time Bush signed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.

[bullring]

True.

[jimmy6]

I live in Indiana, while I do like Ky. racing it will not matter much if Ellis and Turfway close because we dumb hoosiers will pick up the slack. Ky. horsemen can come here and run for bigger purses (they already are), ky. slot players can cross the bridge and leave the money here(we'll keep it). The ky. republicans can keep getting elected by the baptists and while they beat their bibles we in Indiana get the money. It's all good.

[drunkmonkey]

sad day for kentucky racing. short fields here we come.

[scratch1]

Originally Posted by jimmy6

I live in Indiana, while I do like Ky. racing it will not matter much if Ellis and Turfway close because we dumb hoosiers will pick up the slack. Ky. horsemen can come here and run for bigger purses (they already are), ky. slot players can cross the bridge and leave the money here(we'll keep it). The ky. republicans can keep getting elected by the baptists and while they beat their bibles we in Indiana get the money. It's all good.

The KY politicians are all douchebags. I've followed this story for years and years now. Our should-be-impeached Governor, after being elected on a platform of expanded gambling, has done little to nothing to get this thing passed. What pisses me off the most is that they won't let it get to a vote. The 'Pubs know the same thing that I know--it'll never pass anyway. I don't know what they are scared of.

You said a mouthfull jimmy6. I think I'll just start sending you my paycheck every week.
It'll be less painful that way. LMAO!!!!!!!