Thoroughbred track leaders are said to be vigorously opposed to a constitutional amendment to allow slots in seven counties with tracks, even if local-option votes were eliminated as a requirement and tracks were guaranteed slots
licenses and a larger cut of their proceeds.
That was what state senator Damon Thayer reported to the Lexington Herald-Leader’s Janet Patton.
Turfway Park’s president, Bob Elliston, confirmed that view, saying a constitutional amendment would take too long, and immediate relief is needed. He and Churchill Downs president Kevin Flanery are supporting a bill to be introduced by house speaker Greg Stumbo which would allow slots at tracks under existing lottery laws. The danger is there may not be enough legislative support to pass that measure.
Thayer believes governor Steve Beshear does not have the 20 senate votes necessary to pass a slots-by-statute bill without the support of two democrats that oppose expanded gambling, and one other who says he will abstain.
With democratic support, Thayer believes he can get the 23 votes needed to pass his constitutional amendment proposal in the senate, allowing a public vote in November.
(Harness Tracks of America)