KY Racing Comm to Decide Dates Dispute
Oct 22, 2013 10:08:44 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Oct 22, 2013 10:08:44 GMT -5
Florida should take note. This is what racing commissions do.
Full Kentucky racing commission to decide Sept. disputes between Churchill Downs, Kentucky Downs
by Gregory A. Hall
Louisvile Courier Journal
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission‘s Dates Committee on Monday deferred the two remaining 2014 dates disputes between Churchill Downs Racetrack and Kentucky Downs to a vote of the full commission Tuesday.
The dates committee unanimously approved the dates request by Ellis Park and the uncontested portions of the Churchill (which is basically the same as this year’s) and Kentucky Downs requests.
At issue are Kentucky Downs’ request to add a sixth day of September racing (Saturday, Sept. 20, overlapping with Churchill); and Kentucky Downs’ request for nine days of host-track status, which would give it a favorable split of simulcasting revenues.
The issues are newer versions of the same issues in last year’s dates debate for 2013.
Churchill will agree to the six days of host track status that Kentucky Downs got this year — but only if Kentucky Downs only gets the five days it got this year, Churchill track President Kevin Flanery said to the committee.
Kentucky Downs President Corey Johnsen said his Franklin, Ky., track loses money on live racing, but that adding the sixth day would help create a more consistent Wednesday-and-Saturday schedule that could help the track approach break even.
Kentucky Downs’ Johnsen said the three additional days of host track status also would help underwrite racing the additional sixth day.
Flanery said the best environment for racing is to have only one track running and have it “own a particular footprint.” He said Churchill believes it is entitled to be host track for the entire month under state law, but would compromise to repeat the 2013 calendar in 2014.
Johnsen said the six host track days this year were worth about $80,000. (If that’s consistent, the nine days could be worth $120,000, half of which would go to purses.)
Full Kentucky racing commission to decide Sept. disputes between Churchill Downs, Kentucky Downs
by Gregory A. Hall
Louisvile Courier Journal
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission‘s Dates Committee on Monday deferred the two remaining 2014 dates disputes between Churchill Downs Racetrack and Kentucky Downs to a vote of the full commission Tuesday.
The dates committee unanimously approved the dates request by Ellis Park and the uncontested portions of the Churchill (which is basically the same as this year’s) and Kentucky Downs requests.
At issue are Kentucky Downs’ request to add a sixth day of September racing (Saturday, Sept. 20, overlapping with Churchill); and Kentucky Downs’ request for nine days of host-track status, which would give it a favorable split of simulcasting revenues.
The issues are newer versions of the same issues in last year’s dates debate for 2013.
Churchill will agree to the six days of host track status that Kentucky Downs got this year — but only if Kentucky Downs only gets the five days it got this year, Churchill track President Kevin Flanery said to the committee.
Kentucky Downs President Corey Johnsen said his Franklin, Ky., track loses money on live racing, but that adding the sixth day would help create a more consistent Wednesday-and-Saturday schedule that could help the track approach break even.
Kentucky Downs’ Johnsen said the three additional days of host track status also would help underwrite racing the additional sixth day.
Flanery said the best environment for racing is to have only one track running and have it “own a particular footprint.” He said Churchill believes it is entitled to be host track for the entire month under state law, but would compromise to repeat the 2013 calendar in 2014.
Johnsen said the six host track days this year were worth about $80,000. (If that’s consistent, the nine days could be worth $120,000, half of which would go to purses.)
