Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer reaffirmed his support for a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling Feb. 9, and in the wake of allegations he has conflicts of interest, released a client list for his consulting business.
3 days agoA lawsuit over legislative redistricting and the resulting extension of the filing deadline for the November election has stalled action on a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling in Kentucky.
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said Jan. 31 he expects a casino gambling amendment to be introduced "in a few days," and again accused Republican Sen. President David Williams of attempting to derail the process.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The parameters of a constitutional amendment on casino-style gambling in Kentucky have been agreed upon, and legislation will be introduced soon, the governor's office said Jan. 25.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Members of the Kentucky General Assembly were told Jan. 18 the state's horse industry remains under siege from competitive forces out of state, and that action must be taken to reverse the slide.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Legislation that would impose an excise tax on advance deposit wagers made by Kentucky residents was introduced in the state House of Representatives Jan. 9.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, in his state of the Commonwealth address Jan. 4, said a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling is a major priority for the 2012 General Assembly session.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012Bipartisan efforts to get a constitutional amendment on casino gambling on the 2012 ballot in Kentucky continued Dec. 29 when Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear met with Republican Sen. Damon Thayer.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear Dec. 27 reaffirmed his efforts to push for a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling in 2012, citing results of a survey on the topic.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear will push for a 2012 constitutional amendment to expand gambling in the state.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The Kentucky General Assembly probably will consider legislation in 2012 that taxes bets made by Kentucky residents through advance deposit wagering systems to bolster the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
A report on Kentucky's Thoroughbred breeding industry and related state programs that support it financially shows continued strength in quality despite decreases in funding and competition from gaming states.
Thursday, November 10, 2011Regulations governing Instant Racing in Kentucky apparently will be on the books July 1, but there won't be a rush by racetracks to move forward on implementing the games.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear May 2 ceremonially signed into law the Interstate Racing and Wagering Compact legislation sponsored by Republican Sen. Damon Thayer.
Monday, May 02, 2011
Bills authorizing participation in an interstate racing compact and some oversight of advance deposit wagering companies have passed the Kentucky House and Senate.
Saturday, March 05, 2011The Kentucky Senate passed a bill March 3 authorizing the licensing of advance deposit wagering companies and a requirement that they report pari-mutuel handle on Kentucky races.
Thursday, March 03, 2011Legislation calling for state licensing of advance deposit wagering companies advanced March 2 as Kentucky lawmakers try to get a handle on the fast-growing operations.
Thursday, March 03, 2011The only thing standing in the way of passage of legislation that would allow Kentucky to join an interstate racing compact is reconciliation of bills in the House of Representatives and Senate.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Legislation authorizing Kentucky to join the proposed National Racing Compact is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Feb. 9.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Republican Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer has pre-filed a bill that would authorize an interstate racing and wagering compact with Kentucky as a member.
Monday, December 20, 2010There may be growing sentiment in the Kentucky legislature to pass a measure authorizing a constitutional amendment on racetrack gaming, officials indicated after the Nov. 2 election.
Saturday, November 06, 2010A Kentucky Horse Racing Commission committee is considering changes to the state's Breeders' Incentive Fund, money for which comes from a 6% sales tax on stud fees.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
On the heels of a successful opening weekend at Ellis Park comes word of a few initiatives that, if they come to fruition, could generate or repurpose revenue for Kentucky racing. But will it be enough?
Monday, July 12, 2010
When Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and representatives of Breeders' Cup and Churchill Downs announced the track was selected to host the World Championships in 2011, the lawmaker who pushed for tax breaks wasn't on hand.
Monday, June 14, 2010
As Breeders' Cup considers a future host site schedule complicated by recent actions in California, a Kentucky lawmaker has reiterated the state's favorable tax climate in hosting the World Championships.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Kentucky Senate President David Williams said April 27 issues in the horse racing and pari-mutuel industry are "complicated," but lawmakers intend to continue working on ways to strengthen the business.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Legislation to authorize Instant Racing at Kentucky racetracks apparently won't come up again anytime soon.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Republican Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer spent more than an hour March 18 in a GOP caucus in an attempt to make a case for Instant Racing via statutory approval.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Legislation to aid the horse industry in Kentucky may be dead after developments in the state capital March 17.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010Legislation authorizing Instant Racing at Kentucky racetracks is in line for major revisions that would place approval squarely in the lap of the governor or Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
An executive with RaceTech, the company that produces Instant Racing machines, said the product has held up well against electronic games of skill at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Legislation authorizing Instant Racing, a tax on advance deposit wagering, and a reduction in the pari-mutuel excise tax sailed through the Kentucky Senate Committee on State and Local Government March 11.
Thursday, March 11, 2010Yet another bill authorizing gaming at racetracks has been introduced in the Kentucky General Assembly. With less than a month to go in the session, no action has been taken on any gaming-related legislation.
Thursday, March 04, 2010The Kentucky Equine Education Project Feb. 12 reiterated its calls for immediate action from the Kentucky General Assembly to assist the horse industry in the state.
Friday, February 12, 2010Gov. Steve Beshear is urging Kentucky lawmakers to take another look at legalizing video lottery terminals to avoid cuts in the state's next budget.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A surprisingly good night for business on a winter evening at Turfway Park doesn't hide the fact Kentucky's year-round Thoroughbred racing industry is in serious trouble.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010Legislation calling for a constitutional amendment on any expansion of gambling in Kentucky failed to garner the required number of votes for passage in the state Senate Jan. 21.
Thursday, January 21, 2010Legislation calling for a constitutional amendment on any expansion of gambling in Kentucky passed a Senate committee Jan. 20 on a predictable party-line vote.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Democratic Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear called the state legislature's bluff Jan. 19 by presenting a two-year budget that relies on more than $700 million in revenue from gaming machines at racetracks.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Saying his bill for a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling in the state is gaining support from some members of the Kentucky horse industry, Republican Sen. Damon Thayer put action on the bill on hold Jan. 13.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010Republican Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer has prefiled legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to authorize racetrack video lottery terminals.
Friday, November 06, 2009The president of Churchill Downs Inc. said he believes recent developments with the makeup of the Kentucky General Assembly are positive and could help lead to legalization of video lottery terminals at racetracks in the state.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Republican Sen. Dan Kelly, a member of the Senate committee that killed racetrack gaming legislation during a special General Assembly session earlier this year, was appointed by Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear as an 11th Judicial Circuit judge.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Kentucky's horse racing and breeding industry plans to stand its ground in the wake of a proposal for a constitutional amendment on gaming some have characterized as a politically-motivated stall tactic.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Jockeys' Guild national manager Terry Meyocks, formerly an executive with the New York Racing Association, will seek the Kentucky Senate seat currently held by Republican Alice Forgy Kerr in the November 2010 election.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
A Kentucky Thoroughbred breeder said Republican lawmakers plan to push for a constitutional amendment on racetrack gaming, but a spokesperson for the state's Senate leader said that's not the case.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Kentucky Senate President David Williams has continued a war of words with leading Democrats over the politics surrounding proposed racetrack gaming in Kentucky. But Williams, a Republican, has also apparently drawn the ire of Kentucky's top GOP leader.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Following the June demise of expanded gambling in the legislature, representatives of Kentucky's horse industry vowed to take a more aggressive role in statehouse campaigns. The industry's involvement in a special state Senate election in eastern Kentucky Aug. 25 is proving the threat wasn't hollow.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
A reduction in stakes purses for its upcoming meet will allow Turfway Park to maintain overnight purses and racing days, but track officials are thinking ahead to 2010, when that probably won't be the case.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009A Republican Kentucky senator who chaired the committee that killed legislation to authorize video lottery terminals at the state's racetracks has been appointed as commissioner of the Kentucky Public Service Commission by Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
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