Turfway's Lack of Progress Concerns Industry Leaders

An Oct. 8 visit to Turfway Park revealed giant tents set up in the parking lot for a sale on Adidas shoes and athletic wear, but there was no visible sign of any progress on facility renovations outlined in February by track management.

That lack of progress on the project, which would see Turfway add 500 historical racing machines, has raised concerns with industry leaders in the state. Those concerns were discussed at an Oct. 9 meeting of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund advisory committee at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Discussion during the meeting revealed Kentucky Downs could provide $500,000 of excess KTDF funds to Turfway, just as it has done for Churchill Downs and Keeneland this year, as well as $2.9 million to Ellis Park. But Kentucky Downs president Corey Johnsen said the track will not make that $500,000 payment to Turfway without approval of Kentucky horsemen, who do not want Turfway to receive that funding until construction of the historical racing facility begins.

"Our wishes are to see the project go forward and a commitment to historical racing machines that we've done with Ellis Park and at other tracks. We want to see that go forward and we didn't see that process yet," Kentucky HBPA executive director Marty Maline said. "Hopefully it's moving in the right direction and I'd think that our board would look favorably on that, if construction begins. But so far there hasn't been any."

Meanwhile, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission chairman Frank Kling Jr., who attended the meeting, told committee members that he will meet with Turfway ownership Oct. 12 to discuss the status of the project. Turfway is owned by Detroit-based gaming company JACK Entertainment.

"We're going to talk about the future of Turfway," Kling said. "A lot will depend on the answers to what they're going to do in the near future. A lot of this will be, 'If you're not going to do anything to help yourself, then we're not interested in helping you.' ... We'll see what they're interested in doing in the very near future."

Turfway has never placed a timetable on its project, which would include $25 million in renovations that would create a new entrance directly to the second floor with a new historical gaming room on one side and simulcast room on the other. At the Tuesday meeting, Turfway general manager Chip Bach said an architect is in place for the project and they're going through the process for approval from the city of Florence.  

"In late October, we expect our construction drawings to be 100% completed, which is what we're going to base our pricing off of," Bach said. "November is when we'll be bidding it to the general contractors. The general contractors, in turn, will provide us with a construction plan."

Bach said this timing is consistent with a letter he sent to the commission in the summer.

"We're continuing to move in the direction and at the pace we outlined in the summer," Bach said. "I can't answer if that's fast enough or acceptable, but what we've been reporting is still on track. If there's any deviation to that plan for any reason—we find oil, or an Indian burial ground—we are obligated and promise to immediately inform the (Kentucky Horse Racing Commission)."

KTDF advisory committee member J. David Richardson acknowledged he understood everyone's position but encouraged all involved to work toward some solution that would make the contribution possible. He said it's his feeling that more Kentucky horsemen would like to stay in the state year-round, including through the Turfway meet.

Richardson, an owner-breeder who also serves on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, wondered if perhaps some deal could be made for a single year that would allow the Kentucky Downs KTDF contribution to Turfway.

Maline acknowledged that the KTDF money from Kentucky Downs would provide a boost, but he said it's most important that Turfway add the gaming because that would bolster all of its purses. While KTDF money from Kentucky Downs would add to maiden and allowance purses, he estimated that 80% of the races at Turfway, claiming races, would see no improvement from such a contribution. 

"The way I understand our board is that they want to see construction begin, instead of artists' renderings or what have you," Maline said. 

Johnsen noted horsemen have been consistent in that standard with other tracks.

With the opening of Churchill Downs Inc.'s historical gaming facility at its TrackSide property in Louisville last month, Turfway is the lone Thoroughbred track in the state not tied to such added-gaming. 

Turfway's lack of progress was in contrast to positive initial reports from Churchill officials, who said the new historical gaming facility, Derby City Gaming, was averaging $1.5 million in handle a day since its launch last month. That action will allow the track to increase maiden special weight purses at its upcoming November meeting to $76,000 (including $10,900 from KTDF), up 27% from the $60,000 awarded in maiden races last year.

Those strides are in contrast to the $18,500 Turfway plans to pay for its maiden races at its upcoming 2018 and 2019 meets, the same amount awarded the past four years.

Bach said he'd still like to see something worked out to allow the Kentucky Downs KTDF contribution.

"In my mind a shovel in the ground is a somewhat arbitrary measurement," Bach said. "We've spent about $750,000 in plans and permits. That's almost a million bucks already. That's not inconsequential. I could put a guy in a yellow hat in a bulldozer at Turfway tomorrow if that gets us over some Maginot line."