Jockey Borel pushes slots at Kentucky tracks
FRANKFORT – Jockey Calvin Borel, who won this year’s Kentucky Derby on Mine That Bird and the Preakness Stakes aboard super filly Rachel Alexandra, is taking on the quest for video lottery terminals at the state’s racetracks.
Borel is helping the Kentucky Equine Education Project, a horse industry group based in Lexington, to urge passage in an upcoming special legislative session of a bill to allow slots at the tracks to increase purses.
Borel is featured in a radio ad and has written a commentary about the issue.
In the commentary, Borel notes that Gov. Steve Beshear has called a special legislative session to begin June 15 to address VLTs at the state’s tracks.
“If it doesn’t pass soon, then we will fall way behind, and those hard-working people all over Kentucky who take care of the horses will have to relocate to other states,” Borel said.
He notes that he moved to Kentucky 12 years ago “to be in the middle of the horse racing and breeding capital of the world.”
“There are reasons that Kentucky has been recognized as No. 1,” Borel said. “We have strong race tracks and internationally known races which provide a year round circuit. We have the finest breeding farms and horses in the world. And, we have outstanding horsemen and women who take care of the horses.
“No other state has this foundation, but Kentucky is at a crossroads. Our position as the best is slipping. Every other state in the region now helps fund their purses and breeders’ awards with money from alternative forms of gaming.”
A KEEP spokeswoman said Borel is not getting paid for his work in promoting slots at the tracks.
–Jack Brammer
Filed Under: Featured • KY General Assembly • State Government • Steve Beshear
About the Author: 
Those that stand to benefit from the slots will always push for them to be installed.
Everyone benefits from 100,000 employed Kentuckians.
I totally agree with Calvin. There are a handful of racetracks that actually make money . We are losing ground by not having gambling in Kentucky and or at the racetracks.
Many tracks are cutting racing days and the purses are starting to shrink also.
People who are involved with the racing industry have lost their jobs because of the cut backs.
If a trainer loses 30 to 40 percent of his stable then many people lose their jobs.
If less people are coming to the tracks to bet because of a weak card than the people in the service industry suffer also.
I can name many businesses that depend on the racing industry for a livelihood.
Let’s hope KEEP doesn’t screw up this ride like Calvin did the Belmont.
STOP the talk about the jobs created. Go to the race track, or training tracks, and see that these workers are ALL hispanics, not Kentuckians !!! Illegal ? No taxes to pay ? Is this what you want???? Just go to a barn one morning early .
It’s an economic issue!! Everyone in Kentucky stands to benefit if we have an industry that is successful, especially one that brings added tourism dollars. If our signiture industry adds more gaming which brings more tourists, it creates a ripple effect for everything….more people interested in living and working here, more dollars going into making towns and cities better, ALL businesses benefit.
Check out today’s St. Louis Post Dispatch front page article about Illinois casinos losing their lawsuit to stop horse track subsidies from casino revenues. There’s the future.
Calvn, double crown winner.
Does he endorse for his love of horses or does he endorse for cash from the lobby?
Governor, What happened to LET THE PEOPLE VOTE?
Just another switch and going with the money flow.
Stivers –
He endorses because he chose to make his home in Louisville and without this legislation he will no longer be able to live here and make a decent living.
Not a personal attack, but you always bring up LETTING THE PEOPLE VOTE. Beshear was very specific in proposing a vote for full CASINO GAMING, never on VLTs alone. The legal groundwork in making these an extension of the Lottery is sound.
We do not make rules by popular soverignty. We elect officials to make these decisions. Besides, this is urgent. The horse business cannot wait for a vote, appeal and decision. It will be far too late to save the horse business by then.
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