Churchill Downs to build historic horse racing facility in Kentucky
Churchill Downs, Inc. confirmed this week its intention to build a racetrack in Owensboro, Ky., the site of the Ellis Park Thoroughbred Racetrack in Henderson. The previous owner had previously announced the news.
The Louisville-based racetrack owner and gaming operator purchased Ellis Park from Laguna Development Corporation last September for $79 million. Ellis Park is the home of summer racing at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Laguna previously announced plans to build and operate a $100 million playground in Owensboro, about 25 miles east of Henderson. Plans for Laguna call for the establishment of the Historic Horse Racing Machine (HHR), a hookup center and several food and beverage outlets.
HHR terminals are slot machine-like machines, but the results of a historical horse racing machine are not based on spins determined by a random number generator, but rather on previously played horse races. Bettors will see the pool odds for the race but retain key information such as venue, date, horse, jockey and trainer. Bettors often choose the automatic betting option to place their bets on popular matches.
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Without revealing much, Churchill Downs confirmed in a press release that it intends to move forward with Laguna's HHR property project in Owensboro. Churchill acquired development rights for the Owensboro project by purchasing Ellis Park.
Churchill Downs said in a statement: "The company has identified a site in eastern Davis County outside Owensboro city limits for its previously announced historic racing complex as Ellis Island. "This new facility will help raise funds for racing activities at Ellis Park."
Churchill Downs' statement added that more information, including a capital budget for the Owensboro facility, will be released in the coming months.
Laguna selects Towne Square Mall as the venue for HHR. But Churchill Downs' announcement that it has acquired a site outside Owensboro's city limits suggests the company is focusing on a new, undisclosed project site since Towne Square Mall is within Owensboro's city limits.
HHR Legality
Historic horse racing machines are popular in states where pari-mutuel betting is legal but commercial casino gambling is not, as is the case in Kentucky. HHR equipment has helped stabilize a troubled horse racing industry that has faced criticism recently over a spate of horse deaths at several tracks, including Louisville's namesake Churchill Downs.
Revenue from HHR Games supports the track and riders through increased funding. The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled in early 2021 that the machines were illegal, holding that they did not constitute pari passu wagering.
In February 2021, state lawmakers eased the situation by passing an HHR bill that gave the machines a legal basis. That same month, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) signed historic racing legislation.
Churchill Downs is having a shopping spree. Last year's $2.5 billion acquisition of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment made Churchill the leading operator of HHR equipment in Virginia.
The assets acquired by P2E include Colonial Downs and six off-site HHR gaming venues, operating under the Rosie's Gaming Emporium brand.
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Source: www.casino.org
