Kentucky Downs

[kenlblack]

What is the general feeling among state residents and others in the industry about Kentucky Downs? I just see it on TV, but I think "what a GREAT-looking track!" They bill themselves as America's only European-style track, and if they had the purse structure, I would think it could be a hit among some European transplants. How is it doing financially? Any hopes for a longer season--especially if a track like Colonial Downs winds up closing?

Ken

[Mickey the Marcher]

What is the general feeling among state residents and others in the industry about Kentucky Downs? I just see it on TV, but I think "what a GREAT-looking track!" They bill themselves as America's only European-style track, and if they had the purse structure, I would think it could be a hit among some European transplants. How is it doing financially? Any hopes for a longer season--especially if a track like Colonial Downs winds up closing?

Ken

Being that it's a European style track, i.e all Turf, then it can only host a European style meet, i.e 5-6 days of racing at a time.
It's not really near any major urban centers either, except maybe Nashville, which is a drawback.
Cool place, possibly my favorite US track.
What would be cool is if they held a spring or late fall jumps racing meet there. They used to have a high dollar hurdle race there for a year or two back when it was called Dueling Downs, even a few British and Irish horses came over for it. That was late 80's I think.

[madelyn]

I believe it was called "Dueling Grounds." They talked about having jumps this year but I guess they couldn't find enough folks interested. It is my favorite track of all in KY. It is the NEATEST place -- unfortunately far from everything. It has a big turf course shaped something like a lightbulb, that undulates and has some elevation changes. I WISH it had a longer meet - two weeks is not enough.

They have just enough race days to keep the simulcast license and there is a pretty nice clubhouse. If Ohio goes as planned next year, they will have mainly QH racing with just enough TB's to keep the simulcast license.

[geowarrior]

They did have two steeplechases on last Saturday's card, apparently for the first time in a few years. I watched those races on TVG. Enjoyed them a lot. And I enjoyed the analysis - Kotulak always takes his handicapping seriously and made a very good selection in the maiden hurdle and also he drew out Jimmy Duggan for a good discussion about various aspects of steeplechasing. However, the TVG 'coverage' of the Kentucky Cup (GIII) turf in the flat was non-existent, with the completely clueless 'Nancy' obviously knowing how to read prices, and able to recognise that Silverfoot is a gray horse, and nothing else. Meanwhile heavy coverage of inferior races at Fairplex, with a team of analysts that are highly competent and could easily have had something useful to say about the Turf race and plenty of time to include it in their program.