Opportunity to make a difference
Via Price bell
This weekend, batons will be handed out from our traditional summer spotlights Del Mar and Saratoga for Franklin Kentucky and Kentucky Downs to meet. The full fields, large crowds, and vibrant atmosphere are created by Historic Horse Racing (HHR) machines and a group of owners willing to invest in its potential. The Kentucky Downs embodies great hope for the Kentucky race and the future of our industry, and it was virtually scrapped on February 10, 2021.
It was an uncomfortably cold February evening in Kentucky, as the Kentucky House of Representatives debated Senate Bill 120, legalizing HHR machines. The intellectual property argument, which created HHR, is great because it ensures the revenue generated by the machines will flow through the Horsemen wallet account to replenish the money in the pocket. Lessons learned from other state “racino” experiments were applied in Kentucky and expertly executed by our industry leaders, for whom I am forever grateful.
Needless to say, we are enjoying a boom period since the adoption of HHR. The funds in the wallet are skyrocketing, processing more and more with fuller fields and investments are being made around the commonwealth in our racing product. This boom period is thanks to our industry leaders and lobbying organizations, who have spent time in Frankfort and throughout Kentucky, making sure HHR goes through, and it wasn’t. a small miracle.
If you recall that night, many speeches on the floor were given from various representatives around the commonwealth, and many were not supportive. Many of our industry opponents, took the opportunity to declare to their members why they “cannot support” our industry. Many supporters of the passage of the HHR have since been voted on by their constituents. Let me say it again… many of the people who voted in favor of the HHR since then have been voted RA by their constituents. I bet if HHR were to be listed today, it wouldn’t have passed…how could it be sober.
In Kentucky alone, there are dozens of newly elected people who ultimately set the rules for our industry: HHR, taxes, employee tax, etc. Hope they support us because “we are” is a Kentucky industry” and knew this “boom period” would quickly go bankrupt. Many of our supporters, in Frankfort, voted. We cannot sit idly by and expect their replacements to make the right choices.
We are enjoying this period of incredible growth thanks to the tireless work of our industry leaders, however, over the years we have left too little of our burden. We’re harvesting their hard work and it’s time for more of us to get involved. We are responsible for our future. Now is the time to get involved. Please join us at Midway University in Midway Kentucky on Tuesday, September 6 to learn how we continue to move toward a bright future.
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This story was posted in News is shared and tagged Del Mar, Franklin County, Historical horse racing, Race, Kentucky, Kentucky Downs, Saratoga, summer.