Friday, March 12, 1999
Ky. lawmakers fret over Turfway future
BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE — State lawmakers who delivered a tongue-lashing to Turfway Park's prospective buyers last month get another whack today about the buyers' intentions for the track.
Members of the General Assembly's Licensing and Occupations committee want to talk again to representatives of Keeneland, Harrah's and G-TECH and determine whether they intend to turn Turfway into a center of casino gambling.
The trio has agreed to buy Turfway for $37 million, but the entrance of a casino company (Harrah's) and lottery operator (G-TECH) into Kentucky's tradition-laden horse racing industry continues to strike fear in the hearts of some legislators.
State lawmakers are expecting the new Turfway owners to ultimately seek approval to install video lottery terminals (VLTs), a type of video slot machine, at the track. Representatives of Keeneland and the others have said they will not proceed on VLTs immediately, but they have not ruled that move out for the future.
“I think some (legislators) are still concerned about G-TECH,” said Rep. Denver Butler, D-Louisville, committee chairman. “And of course, when you hear G-TECH, you hear VLTs.”
Though concerns about casino-style gambling at horse tracks are causing waves, those concerns may have very little impact on the sale. As long as the Kentucky Racing Commission determines the three partners meet all criteria necessary for approval, it will approve the sale.
That is expected to happen at a special meeting of the commission Tuesday. Commission Executive Director Bernie Hettel said he would not have put the matter on Tuesday's agenda if he did not think it would pass.
Committee member Rep. Tim Shaughnessy, D-Louis ville, has called the Turfway purchase a ruse. The new owners don't want to protect thoroughbred racing in Kentucky; they want to find a back door for casinos, he said.
House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, D-Louisville, also expressed concern about the future, saying he was not certain the sale to this group would benefit the racing industry.
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