Jockey Calvin Borel joins hundreds at rally for slots at tracks
Kentucky Derby winning jockey Calvin Borel attended the pro-slots rally held Wednesday on the Capitol steps in Frankfort. Kentucky lawmakers are considering a bill to allow slot machines at Kentucky racetracks. Photo by David Perry
FRANKFORT – Calvin Borel, winning jockey of this year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, usually races on Wednesdays at Churchill Downs.
But with the Louisville track closed Wednesday because of a lack of racing horses, Borel joined a crowd of several hundred on the front steps of the state Capitol to rally for video lottery terminals at state race tracks.
Though Borel was not in the speakers’ lineup for the hour long rally that included Gov. Steve Beshear, first lady Jane Beshear and former Gov. Brereton Jones, the colorful jockey was the focus of attention at his first trip to the Capitol.
Borel, who has voiced a radio ad for the horse industry’s efforts to get slots at tracks, said he came to the rally on his own.
“I want to be here. We need this bad,” he said to a throng of reporters.
Asked how his business in Kentucky has changed since tracks at other states implemented expanded gambling, Borel said, “You see less people at the race tracks.”
The horse industry contends it cannot compete with other states that have expanded gambling.
Beshear is pushing in the current special legislative session a bill to allow slots only at race tracks. He has sweetened the measure with tax breaks for active military personnel and motor vehicle owners.
House Democratic leaders also are considering adding to the bill using revenue generated by slots at the tracks to finance school construction projects.
Opponents of the bill claim it is bad public policy and would create more social ills with increased gambling. Several hundred attended a rally Tuesday in the Capitol Rotunda against the slots legislation.
Former Gov. Jones, who runs Airdrie Stud, a thoroughbred horse farm near Midway, said at Wednesday’s rally that he was not asking Kentuckians to gamble any more but to gamble in Kentucky and not in other states.
Such a move could double track purses in Kentucky, he said.
Jones, a Democrat, also said he thought a proposal by Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, to raise purse supplements through a tax on lottery ticket sales without expanded gambling is highly questionable.
Gov. Beshear promised the crowd that his wife and he “would stand by” the horse industry as long as he is governor.
She said the industry involves more than track owners, mentioning gate companies, paint companies, farm implement dealers, mowers and rural grocery stores.
Debbie Averill and Angela Albin, suite attendants at Churchill Downs, said many workers in the horse industry are not rich.
They said they are losing 20 percent of their paychecks with the track shut down on Wednesdays.
Patrick Neely, executive director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project, said the horse industry is “more unified than we’ve ever been” by the slots legislation.
KEEP has obtained more than 12,000 signatures in the last two weeks in support of the legislation, he said.
–Jack Brammer
Filed Under: David Williams • Featured • State Government • Steve Beshear
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He won two races in a row– Now he will lose two races in a row..This bill needs so much correction- it is laughable..
Stumbo is backing it- need I say more..
Gambling should either be made legal for all or none. It is unfair to give the tracks special rights that no one else gets!
And if you’re going to legalize it, let the operators keep the profits. All this crap about its OK as long as it benefits our children is making me sick, and is a conflict of interest (gov’t being the beneficiary). Why don’t we cut through all the bull and just let the tracks buy whatever legislation they want? The money could pay for a park or something.
Why is a horse worker’s livelihood more important than a rural Kentucky convenience store worker’s?
If gambling on horses and slots is so great, what’s wrong with blackjack, craps, roulette, or poker?
If slot profits are so high that they can double race purses, give tax breaks, pay for license plate fees, and build new schools, then why are they afraid of adding a little competition?
Wouldn’t it be better to just let the schools operate their own slot machines? Or contract someone else to operate them on their behalf?
[...] the troops: Hundreds of protestors rallied on the steps of the state Capitol in Frankfort Wednesday morning in support of le…. Jockey Calvin Borel — winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness — attended the [...]
Not to knock Mr. Borel, but being a resident of LA, he should know how little financial help casinos have been to that state.
Yeah those 18-25% purse increases they have had and increased quality of breeding programs must really sting.
Speaking of jailed politicians, is former Louisiana Governor Edwards out yet?
What will slot machines do for the two “suite attendants” at Churchill who have lost 20 percent of their pay?
Nothing. Perhaps they should be asking the senior management at CHDN why they have not cut 20 percent of their pay and added it to horse purses.
If the fatcats you serve in your suites do not pay you enough, you should look for another line of work. They have they money. It is their choice what you are paid.
It’s not hard to figure out how they have lost 20% of their income. Normally, the track would be open 5 days each week. Now, because of increased purses in surrounding states that allow alternative gaming to supplement racing purses, horsemen are being lured to race there instead, leaving Churchill with only enough horses to hold races 4 days each week. The attendants are only working 4 days instead of 5, same as the tellers, ushers, cooks, bartenders, etc.
Do you want keep losing business to Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and all of the other states with slot machines at their racetracks? Wake up Kentuckians—your signature industry is about to slip thru your fingers.
Do you want to keep losing business to Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and all of the other states with slot machines at their racetracks? Wake up Kentuckians—your signature industry is about to slip thru your fingers.
Wake up Kentuckians—your signature industry is about to slip thru your fingers.Bob Caito | Jun 17, 2009 | Reply
Mr. Caito, Could you factually explain that to us?
As for the HORSES sir, . . . its not about HORSES any longer. Its about new schools and a long term bond issue to fiance them. An issue that would be dependent solely on the VLT’s.
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