Post-Derby Blues in Kentucky

re: Post-Derby Blues in Kentucky

Liz — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:47:59 GMT

I have been a racehorse fan since I can remember and have been very concerned about the downward slide of this sport. There are several factors in play at Churchill. The biggest one is money and that can be generated with casinos. (I think casinos are excruciatingly boring but to each his own.) The CD board has made several decisions that I have questioned. The main being the ridiculous salary and bonus of the top man while backside workers and security people struggle. Churchill fired many long-time security people so they could hire cheaper, outside help, most of whom are barely legal age and don't know a thing about horses. The stable areas haven't seen a coat of paint in many years and I can't believe that at Derby time Churchill Downs doesn't want to present a better image. I like some aspects of the expensive upgrades but I think the Downs sold out to the image by doing so.

They are catering to the fluff, (concerts and expensive suites) and pushing out the lifelong fans of racing. I think another reason is that Churchill has been going for faster and faster surfaces which are not the safest. Too many horses are breaking down. I love racing and want to see it flourish but many issues need to be resolved.

re: Post-Derby Blues in Kentucky

da3hoss — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:37:41 GMT

I have zero interest in casinos, and you have to drag me from the horses, but the casino gets my husband more inclined to want to go, so we'd go more.

re: Post-Derby Blues in Kentucky

Rowner — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:07:01 GMT

I would rather watch the horses than pull a slot machine any day. The casinos provide more than just revenue to the track itself , we to often forget that it also puts money back into the communities by creating more jobs and what the state governments take from the handle that used to fund schools and others programs.

re: Post-Derby Blues in Kentucky

BlueHen — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:39:01 GMT

While I can understand why various tracks want gaming, etc., to remain viable, part of me wonders why people go to a racetrack with all those beautiful equines to sit in a building and pull a lever on a machine? Why not go to the track to see the horses? Maybe it's unrealistic, but it seems to me that getting gaming has nothing to do with the horses or racing, which is why the tracks exist in the 1st place.

That being said, it'd be a shame to have Kentucky tracks shut down because surrounding areas have gaming and they don't.

re: Post-Derby Blues in Kentucky

jj — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:39:10 GMT

Dear first poster,

Did you read the article?

re: Post-Derby Blues in Kentucky

aspradling — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:57:35 GMT

One thing is clear, KY is losing big to tracks who can have large purses due to gambling cash flow.

re: Post-Derby Blues in Kentucky

TouchStone Farms — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:46:33 GMT

Back when I was a boy I had the odd day when my ambition waned with thoughts of doing anything else but chores, and I would put forth a less than stellar effort in the cleaning of tack or the shed row or stalls & pails, folding blankets or applying stall bandages. On a bad day occasionally all of the above would get me set down for a few days from the things I loved to do. My grandfather asked me one day during one of these periods if I could hear the "chomp chomp" .... I said "what chomp chomp" he wryly smiled and said well "that's the noise a bad case of the dumb ass makes when its eating someone up" Ever since then when I start to feel myself backslide I can hear the words "chomp chomp" ringing clearly in my ears.

I guess my point is I am watching the state politicians stagnate, mired down by their ignorance, personal agendas or both with a lack of will to act on the one single issue that would restore Kentucky back to its rightful place as the world leader in its signature Thoroughbred industry by simply acting on the gaming bill that governor Beshear set out. They are guilty of standing idol while the surrounding states grow stronger through their gaming revenue base and relentlessly launch an attack upon Kentucky's weakened breeding & racing industry.

I do believe I hear a crystal chomp chomp coming from the house of representatives.

re: Post-Derby Blues in Kentucky

fb0252 — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:20:08 GMT

TL gives an early red flag, but, i'd like to know, are there too few horses for all the tracks, OR are there too many injured horses, and if so, WHY so many injuries. Does Churchill Downs have a full backstretch or otherwise, and if it's full, for what specific reasons are they declining to enter.