New Governor for Kentucky
 

Link

Not sure how many people of kept up with the political scene in Kentucky, but last night the voters chose Democrat Steve Beshear, a longtime political figure in Kentucky, as the next governor of the state, and he has made it clear that he supports alternative-gaming at the Kentucky tracks.

I think it is safe to say that Kentucky is much closer today to having slots at the racetracks then it was yesterday, but they still have a long, long way to go before seeing a quarter machine at Churchill Downs.

Ought to be interesting to see how this plays out...

I read that he supports a referendum to let the people decide if they want additional gambling. He won't push the legislation through himself and it will be a fight just to get the senate/house to get this to that point at all. Any Kentuckians have additional/more accurate info?

And here I thought "alternative gaming meant" (Ky -2.5 over Louisville this winter) You let the good citizens of Ky bet basketball in that state ans we'll see some real cash for the game. This is the Delaware Park plan set to tale off next april if you talk with the racing admin folks there. The Delaware meet may significantly shorten next year so this is their plan to make up lost revenue

No, that's pretty much it. Blood-Horse has had some articles about how it could impact the horse industry in the state if you search on their site.

Hard to predict how the people will vote on allowing casino gambling, actually (if they can pass through the constitutional amendment to allow a public referendum). I don't think it's an overwhelming yes, but who knows?

The state will be mired in partisan politics for the next four years, so we'll have to see if anything gets done about .... anything.

The first thing Beshear should try and accomplish is removing the tax on horse feed (which cattle, swine, etc. producers do not pay)

I know some horses that should be considered swine.

The polls have consistently shown that the casino/expanded gaming referendum will pass by somewhere close to a 60/40 measure. The issue is a rat of a Senator named Williams that seemingly wants to get paid in pork and probably cash for his blessing. Despite his frequent trips to over the border casinos he is staunchly against KY adding them. Think he gets comped in Cesaers Indiana?

Whether or not you agree that Casinos or expanded gambling is good or bad for horse racing or the state of KY it is hard to argue that the people shouldn't have a chance to let their voice be heard.

I was watching the KET election coverage and Forgy called the gambling issue "The Great Satan."

They are against them instate as long as the out of state ones keep padding their pockets.

Based on that, and the hystorical hypocrisy of other "moral leaders" before him, he is most likely to be found with a crawl space of unmentionables.

Just give him time...they all end up in the MPLS bathrooms at some point

I think most Kentuckians would be shocked at the amount of money the IN casinos are spending to fight expanded gaming in Kentucky. The best thing that ever happened to KY politicos and lobbyists was the casinos locating across the river.

Good to know the polls have been 60/40. I live in a town that just changed the law to allow liquor to be sold at restaurants a few years back (after a 10 year fight), so now we've gone to hell in a handbasket (according to many, it barely passed), but at least McDonald's is no longer our best dining opportunity. This county is still dry as far as direct sales goes. Religious conservativism is alive and well here.

Of course, if some eastern counties and southern counties are allowed to have a casino gambling center, they'll drop meth production in a flash and go with this as a way to make money.

Exactly

No way that you'll get Louisville +2.5 after that UK embarrassment last evening. Ah for the good ol' Tubby Smith days.

Hm.

Guess last-minute gay-baiters can't win 'em all.

Discussion in DRF:

http://www.drf.com/news/article/90188.html

He makes a good point about the Senate Republicans, but one of those Senators is Damon Thayer, formerly of Turfway Park and now with the Breeders Cup. One down, six to go.

you'd be amazed how much progress is held up by dry county rules. several businesses near here shuttered their regional offices, as there was no type of decent restaurants, etc, to go to when they had business to do.

much of northern louisiana still has sunday blue laws--a friend of ours had a son working as a waiter while in college. he hated working sundays as that's when the church crowd would come to eat, and they're lousy tippers.