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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 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.

Churchill Downs Gets OK for September Dates

After last-minute horse-trading and some tough compromises, Kentucky's five Thoroughbred tracks have reached agreement on a 2013 calendar that drastically alters the traditional schedule.

Churchill Applies for September Race Dates

After much deliberating, KHRC committee members voted to reconvene at a later date to make their final recommendations for 2013 race dates in question to the full commission, which meets Oct. 17.

Two Kentucky Tracks in Legal Dispute

Churchill Downs Inc. has filed suit against the entities that have majority ownership of Kentucky Downs, contending the defendants breached their agreement with CDI by converting debt securities into equity.

Kentucky Downs Seeks Three March Dates in '13

Kentucky Downs, the all-turf track that recently completed a hugely successful five-day meet, is seeking eight live racing dates in 2013, including three in March.

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 Cancels Sept. 17 Live Racing

Kentucky Downs has canceled its Sept. 17 race card due to inclement weather and "less-than-perfect track conditions," according to a release from the Franklin, Ky. track.

Ioya Bigtime Pays Off in KD Turf Cup Effort

Ioya Bigtime, staked to a loping lead by Jeffrey Sanchez, refused to buckle under relentless pressure from favored Rahystrada to win the $200,000 Kentucky Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) on the grass course at Kentucky Downs Sept. 15.

Kentucky Downs President Corey Johnsen

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

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THS: Kentucky Cup Turf S.

Tom and Pete handicap the Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs this weekend.

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KY Turf Cup: Rahystrada Makes Title Defense

Third in last month's Arlington Million (gr. IT), Rahystrada will have a little more ground to deal with as he attempts to defend his title in the $200,000 Kentucky Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) Sept. 15 at Kentucky Downs.

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.

Kentucky Downs Accredited by Safety Alliance

Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., has become the 24th racetrack to be fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety and Integrity Alliance.

KY Downs Reduces Takeout Rates, Adds Wagers

Kentucky Downs has announced a reduction in takeout rates for all wagers during the six-day all-turf meet at the Franklin, Ky. track that begins Sept. 8.

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.

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.

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.

After the Thrill Is Gone - By Evan Hammonds

The bread-and-butter meets in Kentucky are teetering on the brink

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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.

Kentucky Veterinarian Arnold Pessin Dies

Arnold G. Pessin, a Kentucky veterinarian who built the Kentucky Training Center, has died. He was 83.

Study Projects $1.7B Benefit of KY Racinos

A study commissioned by a partnership of Kentucky horse racing interests shows that casinos at eight racetrack locations would have a first-year economic impact of $1.7 billion.

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.

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 Fuels Kentucky Downs Increases

Citing increased numbers of patrons attracted by Instant Racing, Kentucky Downs reported live on-track handle for its four-day all-turf meet increased 2.9% to total $313,614.

KY Downs Placing Judge Posted Wrong Finish

The president of Kentucky Downs said a placing judge's error was responsible for an incorrect placing of the horses' finish position in a Sept. 10 race at the Franklin, Ky., track.

Rahystrada Decisive KY Cup Turf Winner

For the second consecutive year Greta Kuntzweiler was aboard the decisive winner of the $150,000 Kentucky Cup Turf (gr. IIIT), this time guiding odds-on favorite Rahystrada to a 3 3/4-length victory Sept. 10 at Kentucky Downs

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.

Rahystrada Tops Kentucky Cup Turf Field

Seeking the third graded stakes win of his career, 7-year-old Rahystrada headlines a field of 10 in the $150,000 Kentucky Cup Turf (gr. IIIT) Sept. 10 on opening day of Kentucky Downs' four-day stand.

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.

KY Downs' Instant Racing to be First Class

The president of Kentucky Downs said the track is nearing completion of work needed to implement a form of Instant Racing and that it will be a "first class" operation and that the opening date will be announced soon.

Horsemen to Help Defray Instant Racing Costs

When Kentucky Downs becomes the first Kentucky track to implement Instant Racing, it will do so with the takeout from the electronic games allocated to purses during the first year being used to help defray startup costs.

Johnsen: Instant Racing to Boost Industry

The president of Kentucky Downs says action by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission July 14 approving a new form of exotic wagering that uses electronic machines will provide an economic and morale boost to the industry.

KY Commission Set to OK First Instant Racing

The staff of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is recommending that the regulatory body on July 14 grant approval to Kentucky Downs to become the first track in the state to implement Instant Racing.