Horse industry floats idea of local-option elections for slots
By Janet Patton - jpatton1@herald-leader.com
The board of the Kentucky Equine Education Project, a horse industry lobbying group, vowed on Monday to continue its fight for expanded gambling after discussing a variety of legislative options, including local-option elections.
“We’re going to save the horse industry and fight until it’s done,” said former Gov. Brereton Jones, chairman of KEEP and owner of Airdrie Stud, in an interview afterward.
The board voted unanimously to redouble efforts at membership and voter registration, but it did not take action on a specific legislative strategy now that efforts have stalled to remove Republican Senate President David Williams, who opposes expanded gambling.
However, several alternatives were explored. Among them: amending the state’s lottery law to permit local-option referenda on allowing video lottery terminals, or slot machines, in counties where there are racetracks.
“We’re willing to let the people vote on it like you vote on a ‘wet/dry’ issue. That could be done quickly,” Jones said.
He said the board did not discuss pursuing a compromise on a proposed constitutional amendment filed by Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown. The racetracks have said they oppose that amendment because it would require a statewide vote as well as local ones, and the tracks would have to compete with other bidders for the casinos.
Thayer said Monday that he doesn’t see Jones’ proposal going anywhere. “I don’t think it’s constitutional to have casino-style gambling unless the constitution is amended,” he said.
Sill, Jones said the local option might be another way “to let the people’s voice be heard in the county where gambling already takes place at a racetrack. … It shouldn’t, in my opinion, make any difference to the people of Paducah if there’s VLTs at Churchill Downs. But let the people of Jefferson County cast the vote as to whether or not they want VLTs in their county.”
He said KEEP has not taken a position on the idea.
Sen. Tim Shaughnessy, D-Louisville, said the idea largely addresses concerns about letting people vote on the issue. “If you want to reach out and find common ground, I think Governor Jones has provided a path that might lead there,” he said.
However, opponents of casino-style gambling immediately dismissed any talk of compromising on a constitutional amendment.
“We don’t understand what it is about ‘let’s do this constitutionally’ that KEEP doesn’t understand,” said Martin Cothran, spokesman for Say No to Casinos. “That it will take too long is “not a good enough excuse to bypass the constitution.”
Another possibility the KEEP board is pursing: “Instant Racing,” an electronic slot-machine-type game where bettors make pari-mutuel wagers based on the outcome of instant “reruns” of randomly selected horse races.
Thayer this spring asked Attorney General Jack Conway for an opinion on whether it is legal for Kentucky racetracks to add the machines, which are currently in use at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. Thayer said Monday that he has not yet received the opinion but has drafted legislation to allow the games if it’s necessary.
About the Author: John Stamper is the government and education editor for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Monticello, Ky., he has been with the Herald-Leader in a variety of roles since graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2000. Reach him at jstamper@herald-leader.com
jerry | Dec 14, 2009 | Reply
If these “slots” are going to save the horse industry why not have them everywhere (help out the local governments) for people to gamble, this bunch only want a lock on gambling, like they had on the horses, as they don`t want the gambling anywhere else.
Barbara Cornett | Dec 14, 2009 | Reply
If gambling will help save our precious horse industry I am all for it under a few conditions. It should be for members only with a minimal fee. Say $5. They would be given ID cards which would be scanned before gambling. Put a maximum amount of $ per day that could be gambled by any one person. Only allow 2 days per week maximum that each member can gamble. Nothing wrong with that and they can still pay their bills and feed their kids. Everone would win this way.
David | Dec 14, 2009 | Reply
As an adult, I dont want or need the heavy hand of the state telling me how I can or can not spend my money. Thats part of being an adult, being personally responsible and not risking more than I can afford. Lets legalize it, tax it, and regulate it rather than exporting Kentucky money to other states.
Buck Feshear | Dec 14, 2009 | Reply
Don’t these horsey people know any other tune besides “slots slots slots?”
William | Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
I go to casino’s in Indiana and Nevada. They are NOT the end all of our problems. Right now, Las Vegas is suffering under a 12% unemployment rate. Gambling revenues are down.
I enjoy gaming at the casino’s on occasion. However I am totally opposed (especially where the horse industry is involved in this state) to any one institution having sole control over an entity such as this. The horse industry and state government already enjoy an all to cozy relationship. Throw hundreds of millions of dollars on top of that and you are asking for levels of corruption never before seen in this state.
Just exactly who decided that the horse industry would have the say so on how casino gaming would be in this state anyway?
Fred | Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
I can’t believe people in this state, especially Lexington, would not be extremely concerned about losing the horse industry. I travel for a living, all over the country, and the ONLY thing that people talk about are the horses, and UK basketball. The horses are the ONLY thing that makes our state special. We are at the bottom of any other list you can think of….but our horses and farms make people think better of our state.
Two faced | Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
Keep up the good work! Kentucky needs to wake up and quit being so two-faced.
We legalize drinking and smoking which kills more individuals than gambling ever will but you don’t see anyone fighting it.
We legalize coal mining which destroys environments and has killed more individuals than gambling ever will.
We permit gambling in many other forms but vote against it in this way. The morale right, as usual, is fickle and want to impress their limited belief system on all.
Party OfNo | Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
When is the Party of No going to be grow up and learn a new word?
The Republicans love the word so much they use it exclusively for everything.
No you shouldn’t do this.
No you shouldn’t do that.
No that’s not a good idea.
No we don’t have any better ideas.
No you’re wrong.
No we’re right.
No we don’t do things that way.
No we lead from the rear.
No life is good the way it is.
No, No, No
I know it is a simple word but let’s get past the it’s NOT POSSIBLE negative attitude.
newferry | Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
My wish for Christmas is: The republican party to get out of my life and stop telling me what is good or naughty for me. That is Santa’s job.
Bill Patterson | Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
I am for gambling in the state. The thing I hear all the time.
Why do we have to put it at race track. The rural part of the state would like to become part of the state as a whole. Not just the golden triangle.
Top Filly | Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
How about the Patton Plan..Full casinos at the borders.
Buck Feshear | Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
Newferry, I want the Democrats out of my wallet and checkbook and bank account.
newferry | Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
Go borrow some more money from Tibet and Tokyo Buck. Now that is the Bush/Reagan doctrine that you can be proud of…just borrow and spend yourself silly.
George Baldwin | Dec 15, 2009 | Reply
The horse industry may run Frankfort, but they don’t run Kentucky. Let them compete for gambling rights.
Larry West | Dec 16, 2009 | Reply
Has KEEP really thought this through?
If this is treated like a “wet/dry vote,” then Churchill Down will NOT get slots. Why? Because the county made Churchill Downs its own precinct without any voters so that their neighbors couldn’t vote the racetrack dry. Since there are no voters, there can’t be a petition for a slots vote. Hence, no slot machines for Churchill.