Kentucky Downs Owners Apply for Harness Track License

Kentucky Downs has filed an application with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to build a Standardbred track in Oak Grove, Ky, close to the Tennessee border and Clarksville, Tenn.

The application follows a proposal by Churchill Downs and Keeneland in September to open a Standardbred track in Oak Grove. Kentucky Downs has opposed that proposal, concerned that a new facility would impact its racing and gaming.

It's expected that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Race Dates Committee will review and discuss both proposals, and any other license applications for race dates and pari-mutuel wagering, when it meets Oct. 9 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

With the closure of Thunder Ridge, a Standardbred racing license in Kentucky is available. Both applications would include Historical Gaming machines, which makes the location near the Tennessee border attractive. While Kentucky border states Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia offer added gaming, Tennessee does not.

According to Kentucky Downs, the track's ownership has filed an application with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to build a Standardbred track to be named Oak Grove Meadows on 80 acres near the intersection of Interstate 24 and U.S. 41-A. Kentucky Downs is committing $45 million to the Oak Grove project and plans to spend an additional $25 million in a major expansion of its existing track in Franklin, Ky.

"We appreciate the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission opening up applications for new licenses," said Corey Johnsen, Kentucky Downs' president who has been involved in the opening or reopening of five tracks in the United States and Latin America. "For a number of years, we have been working with the Kentucky Harness Horsemen's Association and the City of Oak Grove to fill a void in the Standardbred circuit and to create an entertainment and tourist destination in southwest Kentucky that complements existing businesses and enterprises."

The proposed track would race 15 days, Oct. 11-Nov. 10, 2019, with purses fueled year-round by up to 500 Exacta Systems historical horse racing (HHR) terminals, which look and play like slot machines but base winning combinations on previously run horse races and payouts on a pari-mutuel formula. The harness track will be five-eighths of a mile with 450 stalls.

Kentucky Downs, which earlier this year completed the largest renovation in track history, also plans an expansion to double the size of the main building housing its historical horse racing and simulcasting operation as well as constructing a state-of-the-art equestrian complex. The new space will be able to accommodate an additional 800 HHR terminals, a full-service steakhouse and sports lounge.

The track also wants to build an indoor equestrian arena with an integrated grandstand that serves live-racing guests and a new cross-country eventing course in the infield. The multi-purpose arena venue would be supported by two warm-up areas and expanded stabling capacity, as well as RV and trailer parking to service event participants and RV stopover traffic from nearby Interstate 65.

The global design and architectural firm Populous, known for the renovation and expansion of world-class facilities such as Ascot Racecourse and Yankee Stadium, has been retained for both Oak Grove Meadows and the Kentucky Downs' expansion. Dennis Moore, one of the country's most-respected track superintendents, would oversee the construction of the new harness racing surface.

"We have put together a dream team of experts and are excited to share our plans with the Kentucky horse industry," Johnsen said. "We have developed expertise in operating historical horse racing and marketing to the Nashville region. We are confident that our plans at both sites will complement each other and provide maximum revenues for the Kentucky horse industry. This new phase will bring Kentucky Downs' investment to $141 million since 2007."