Friday, June 18, 1999
Banker to be Turfway's president
Ex-lobbyist could lead casino push
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE — Turfway Park will announce Monday that Bob Elliston, a banker and former lobbyist active in Northern Kentucky business and political circles, will be hired as president of the thoroughbred race track.
Sources told the Enquirer Thursday that Mr. Elliston, 35, a Firstar Bank vice president from Florence, will be introduced as president at a Monday press conference.
Reached Thursday evening at home, Mr. Elliston said he could not comment.
The owners of Turfway — a partnership between Keeneland race track, casino operator Harrah's and GTECH, a provider and operator of online gaming and lotteries — could not be reached for comment.
Mr. Elliston will replace Mark Simendinger, who left the track shortly after it was sold in March by entrepreneur and developer Jerry Carroll.
Mr. Simendinger, who has joined Mr. Carroll in a venture to build a motor speedway in Gallatin County, has been given credit by leaders in the thoroughbred industry for helping Mr. Carroll build Turfway into one of the premiere tracks in this part of the country.
Mr. Elliston's hiring could be a signal that Turfway's new owners plan to aggressively push state lawmakers to allow forms of casino gambling — possibly video slots and poker — at Kentucky thoroughbred race tracks.
Mr. Elliston worked as a lobbyist in the Kentucky General Assembly from 1986 to 1992, and he ran the winning 1998 campaign of Boone Coun ty Judge-executive Gary Moore, a Republican.
The race tracks have said they need casino-style gambling to compete with riverboat casinos in neighboring states like Indiana. Gov. Paul Patton has said lawmakers should consider approving some form of gambling, or at least give Kentucky residents a chance to vote on the issue, during the legislative session that begins in January.
Former colleagues say Mr. Elliston has the leadership, peo ple and political skills to lead Turfway.
“Bob is a guy who has demonstrated an ability to be tough, yet passionate and caring on whatever issue he takes on,” said Steve Stevens, the director of government affairs with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Stevens and Mr. Elliston work closely at the chamber, where Mr. Elliston is an active member. They also worked together at the state chamber of commerce in Frankfort.
“He has a strong character and great leadership ability,” Mr. Stevens said.
Another former state chamber colleague, Jeff Eger, who manages the Sanitation District of Northern Kentucky, said Mr. Elliston's hiring is “good news for Northern Kentucky.”
“Bob is one of the brightest guys I ever met,” Mr. Eger said. “And he's been involved with racing and is a very avid fan.”
Mr. Elliston grew up in Richmond, Ky., near the heart of Kentucky's thoroughbred racing industry. He has owned race horses and his brother-in-law manages Ganesway Farm, a Lexington horse farm, Mr. Stevens said.
“Bob used to go over and watch the 6 a.m. morning workouts at Keeneland before com ing over to work at the state chamber in Lexington,” Mr. Stevens said. “He's from the Bluegrass. Racing is in his blood.”
After graduating cum laude from Eastern Kentucky in 1986 with a double major in political science and economics, Mr. Elliston went to work as a staffer for the Kentucky General Assembly's Appropriations and Revenue Committee.
After a year with the Legis lature, Mr. Elliston was hired by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, where he worked as policy analyst and lobbyist before joining Star Bank, the former name of FirStar.
Mr. Elliston is active in several local civic and charitable organizations, including Redwood School, the United Way, Fine Arts Fund and Catholic Social Services.
He and his wife, Sharon, an attorney, have two children, Abby, 7, and Haley, 5.
Mr. Elliston's father-in-law is David Schneider, one of the best known attorneys in Northern Kentucky.
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