Slated to be Kentucky's only Quarter Horse venue, Revolutionary Racing is pouring $10 million into Sandy Ridge Racetrack which is currently under construction in Ashland, the investor said via a Friday press release.
Built on 182 acres behind Sandy's Racing & Gaming–a $75 million entertainment facility that Revolutionary opened 11 months ago–the developer plans to request 2026 race dates from the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation.
“We are excited to begin this phase of our project, which will be unlike anything else in the state,” said Larry Lucas, chairman of Revolutionary Racing. “We envision this to be much more than just a racetrack–we expect it to become an entertainment destination for families, whether it's for racing, concerts, farmer's markets or youth sports. Thanks to our partnerships with state and local officials, it will be another shot in the arm for continued economic development in Eastern Kentucky.”
Mt. Sterling-based Walker Construction and Materials is leading track construction. The company has spent the last three years working near Sandy Ridge, as they were awarded a $45.7 million contract to rebuild four miles of U.S. 60.
Much like that project, there is undeveloped land, which Revolutionary says has taken months of infrastructure planning to address. In addition, the gaming company recently agreed to sell 50 acres to Boyd County for future development.
“The Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association is thrilled to see this announcement by Revolutionary Racing that a first class oval track is being built in Ashland,” said Christina Sowders, the association's president. “We thank Revolutionary Racing for their hard work and perseverance to get here. This has been a long time coming for Quarter Horse racing in Kentucky. We look forward to helping bring world class quarter horse racing to Ashland in 2026.”
Two years ago, Revolutionary Racing received approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for a license to operate a Quarter Horse track and also the opportunity to bring in historical horse racing (HHR) to Sandy's Racing & Gaming.
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