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KHRC Approves More Historical Racing Machines

Despite concerns voiced by one member, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has approved an additional 40 historical race wagering machines and additional types of games and wagers at Kentucky Downs.

KY Quarter Horse Group Backs Keeneland Plan

The Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association has thrown its support behind Keeneland's plan to jointly purchase an eastern Kentucky harness track license and build a Quarter Horse racetrack.

KY Senate Refuses Pension Funding Measure

The Kentucky Senate Feb. 28 refused to accept a funding measure that would have shifted most revenue from historical race wagering to retirement programs at the expense of the horse industry.

KY Lawmaker Questions Raid on Instant Racing

The Kentucky House Feb. 27 passed legislation that in part would take revenue from historical race wagering to fund pensions for state workers, but one lawmaker questioned the bill's impact on the horse industry.

Historical Race Wagers Now Legal in Wyoming

Wyoming became the second state to enact wagering on historical races via legislative action and the signature of the governor Feb. 27.

KY Senator: Factors Stymie Action on Gaming

A Kentucky lawmaker said a General Assembly vote on a constitutional amendment on casino gambling hinges on several factors, none of which appear to be in place during the current legislative session.

Keeneland: Track Plan About Horse Industry

Keeneland officials said they view their plan to build a Quarter Horse racetrack and entertainment center in southeastern Kentucky as part of an overall effort to improve the economics of the horse industry.

Keeneland Pursues Quarter Horse Venture

Keeneland is negotiating the purchase of the Thunder Ridge harness track in Prestonburg, Ky., in partnership with a Nevada-based casino company.

Portland Meadows Seeking Historical Racing

The Oregon horse racing and breeding industry is making a push for historical race wagering at Portland Meadows, which last year raced in the summer and fall with mixed results.

KY Historical Race Wagering Now at $228M

Wagering on historical races in Kentucky generated more than $3.8 million for purses and the state Thoroughbred Development Fund from September 2011 through December 2012.

Michigan Gov.'s Inaction Kills Instant Racing

A bill that would have allowed more gambling at Michigan race tracks has died without Gov. Rick Snyder's signature.

KY Supreme Court to Hear Instant Racing Case

The Kentucky Supreme Court voted Jan. 11 to take up the issue of Instant Racing at the state's racetracks.

Michigan Instant Racing Bill Goes to Governor

The Michigan Senate early in the morning of Dec. 14 passed legislation authorizing wagering on historical races, commonly known as Instant Racing, and sent the bill to Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature.

Ontario Report: Changes Ahead for Racing

Cutting the number of Thoroughbred race dates in Ontario and reducing purses are some of the recommendations put forth by the government commissioned Horse Racing Transition Panel in a final report released Oct. 30.

Szeflinski Named to Oaklawn Position

Paul Szeflinski has been named director of gaming technical maintenance at Oaklawn Park, succeeding Bruce Jones, who was recently promoted to assistant director of gaming.

Kentucky Downs Completes Most Succesful Meet

Kentucky Downs ended its most successful live race meet Sept. 19 in Franklin, establishing new benchmarks for on-track and all sources handle while hosting some of the highest quality racing the track has seen.

Kentucky Downs President Corey Johnsen

Kentucky Downs president Corey Johnsen discusses 2012 meet, historical racing.

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Solutions Not Readily Available in Kentucky

That Turfway Park is struggling to fill live racing programs for its 16-day meet is no surprise to horsemen, who believe a "perfect storm" developed in September.

Kentucky Downs Enjoys Successful Opening Day

Kentucky Downs saw a significant increase in wagering as its brief meet got underway Sept. 8 in Franklin, Ky.

Ellis Park Has Successful 2012 Meet

Despite a closing Labor Day weekend that saw the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac inundate western Kentucky with a deluge of rain, Ellis Park concluded its 29-day meet with increases in attendance and handle.

Instant Racing Starts at Ellis Park Aug. 31

Instant Racing is set to expand in Kentucky Aug. 31 when 177 of the electronic machines will begin operation at Ellis Park in Henderson.

Churchill Increases Kentucky Downs Investment

Churchill Downs Inc. has invested at least an additional $1 million in Kentucky Downs, the track in South Central Kentucky that has reaped millions in revenues from Instant Racing machines introduced last fall.

Record Purses on Tap for Kentucky Downs Meet

As a result of revenues generated by Instant Racing, Kentucky Downs will offer record purses during the six-day, all-turf meet that begins Sept. 8.

Top Court Asked to Hear Instant Racing Case

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and other supporters of Instant Racing have requested that a lawsuit challenging the legality of the machines be heard by the state Supreme Court rather than going back to a lower court.

Kentucky Reaping Benefits of Instant Racing

When Kentucky Downs conducts its short, all-turf meet in September, it will offer some of the most lucrative purses in the Bluegrass State this year, thanks to the success of Instant Racing.

Ellis Park Moving Ahead on Instant Racing

The owner of Ellis Park said June 27 he is hoping to have Instant Racing implemented before the track's summer meet ends on Labor Day. The 29-day meet at the Henderson, Ky., track begins July 4.

Appeals Court Remands KY Instant Racing Case

The Kentucky Court of Appeals has remanded the Instant Racing case to Franklin County Circuit Court after vacating that court's findings.

KY Downs Instant Racing Handle Near $82M

More than $81.95 million was bet through Instant Racing machines at Kentucky Downs from Sept. 1, 2011, through April 30, 2012, according to the latest figures from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

KY Court to Act Quickly on Instant Racing

The Kentucky Court of Appeals is expected to issue an opinion on the challenge to Instant Racing machines in four to six weeks, one of three judges said April 25 after hearing oral arguments on the issue.

Keeneland to Offer Betting at KY Horse Park

In a move that could lead to similar ventures in the future, Keeneland Association has been approved to set up a drive-through betting window at the Kentucky Horse Park for this year's Kentucky Derby and Oaks.

Instant Racing Continues to Thrive in KY

With an appeals court planning to hear arguments later this month on the legality of Instant Racing, the electronic form of gaming continues to generate significant revenues for Kentucky Downs and the state's horse industry.

'Historical Racing' Approved in Nebraska

"Historical racing," a form of electronic gaming based upon results of previously run races, has been approved by Nebraska lawmakers and sent to Gov. Dave Heineman.

Good News in Kentucky on Racing Safety

When the equine medical director for Kentucky gave her monthly report at the March 14 meeting, it showed only one fatality since Dec. 1 at Turfway Park, the only track in the state conducting live racing during the period.

Turfway Slashes Purses; Lowest in 20 Years

In yet another sign of trouble for the Kentucky horse racing industry, Turfway Park said it will slash overnight purses 25% effective March 3 because of an overpayment coupled with lower pari-mutuel handle.

Instant Racing Expands as Popularity Grows

With wagering on Instant Racing growing each month, Kentucky Downs racetrack has received approval to add 75 more electronic games to the 200 that have been in use since Sept. 1.

Churchill Increases Kentucky Downs' Interest

Churchill Downs Inc. has agreed to purchase an additional interest in Kentucky Downs, the track in Franklin, Ky., that has seen a rise in business since the introduction of Instant Racing in late 2011.

Instant Racing: $19M in Bets in Three Months

Instant Racing at Kentucky Downs produced more than $19.52 million in wagers in its first three months of operation, according to figures from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Geary: Ellis Park Could Lure Casino Customers

The president of Ellis Park said Oct. 24 he believes implementation of Instant Racing could attract some of the customers in the area who have been whetting their gambling appetite at a nearby Indiana casino.

Ellis Park Wants 252 Instant Racing Terminals

Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., has submitted an application for regulatory approval to conduct Instant Racing, stipulating that it would use more than 13,200 square feet of its facility to house 252 gaming terminals.

Instant Racing Poised to Expand in Kentucky

With Instant Racing off to a successful start at Kentucky Downs, other tracks in the Bluegrass state are making plans to usher in the form of electronic gaming.

Court Denies Request to Halt Instant Racing

A public policy group's request to halt Instant Racing at Kentucky Downs was denied by the Kentucky Court of Appeals Oct. 5.

Kentucky Group Again Targets Instant Racing

The Family Foundation of Kentucky continued its efforts to halt Instant Racing at Kentucky Downs Sept. 21 when it asked state Attorney General Jack Conway to classify the games as illegal slot machines.

Instant Racing Tied to Simulcast Handle Jump

Kentucky Downs said the launch of Instant Racing Sept. 1 led to year-over-year increases in pari-mutuel handle on simulcast races over Labor Day weekend.

KY Judge Denies Injunction on Instant Racing

A Kentucky Court of Appeals judge Sept. 8 denied a request for an emergency injunction that would have idled Instant Racing machines at Kentucky Downs.

Kentucky Downs Says Instant Racing Play Good

Kentucky Downs is reporting receipts of more than a half-million dollars from Instant Racing machines during their first five days of operation.

Handle Declines at Ellis Park

During Ellis Park's 31-day day race meet July 2-Sept. 5, the Henderson, Ky. track saw declines in all-source handle that were in line with the overall decrease in 2011 U.S. betting on Thoroughbred racing.

Kentucky Group Seeks to Halt Instant Racing

The Family Foundation of Kentucky has filed an injunction in the Kentucky Court of Appeals to halt the operation of Instant Racing machines at Kentucky Downs.

Instant Racing Launched at Kentucky Downs

Kentucky Downs Sept. 1 officially became the first racetrack in the state to operate expanded pari-mutuel wagering in the form of Instant Racing machines.

Kentucky Downs: 'Canary in the Coal Mine'

Amid the uncertainty of reception in the marketplace and a lingering legal challenge, Kentucky Downs officially christened expanded pari-mutuel wagering via Instant Racing machines during an evening reception Aug. 30.

KY Downs to Launch Instant Racing Sept. 1

Kentucky Downs will inaugurate Instant Racing in Kentucky Sept. 1 and believes the form of pari-mutuel wagering can help restore "vibrancy" to the state's horse racing industry.