The 2nd most famous horse track in Kentucky has opened the doors to expanded gambling at the iconic horse track.
Kentucky Downs will now offer Instant Racing, which allows horse bettors to bet on previously run races on individual terminals. Sadly, they have no plans to offer betting on previous played football games.
Detractors have compared the Instant Racing machines to slot machines but bettors say they can focus on details such as how the horses enter the gate and post position.
The new addition is the Kentucky Horse Racing Commissions attempt to revitalize a track that only has four days of live racing a year.
Track President Corey Johnson has big expectations for their $3 million investment into the betting parlour. He’s hired 85 new staff to serve drinks, cash vouchers and work the floor featuring 200 machines.
If the initial launch goes well, Johnson will ask to expand to 500 or more new machines with the revenue generated going towards more live racing and higher purses.
But like any attempt at extended access to gambling, the no-fun brigade isn’t too far behind. A Conservative group (obviously), the Family Foundation, is seeking an injunction to stop the state’s first instant racing parlour.
The group is a little late to the party as they only decided to look for the injunction after seeing photos of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in the newspaper.
A judge is set to make his decision Tuesday on the injunction but it’s doubtful the Family Foundation will succeed as the Kentucky courts may be staunchly against internet gambling but anything that will benefit the horse racing industry will be supported.
