On Thursday, March 11, by a vote of 11-1, Kentucky's Senate State and Local Government Committee approved a revised version of House Bill 368. The bill would authorize the implementation of 'instant racing' games for

state racetracks.

“I do think it will provide some help and a great deal of hope for the horse industry,” Senator Damon Thayer was quoted as saying in an article by The Courier-Journal. “We need to remain the horse capital of the world, and I think this is a very good plan that will help us do that.”

The slot-like instant racing machines -- which utilize previously-run horse races -- would be set up in a pari-mutuel fashion, and would pay out at least 81.5 per cent of the money they take in back to gamblers.

(With files from The Courier-Journal)