Kentucky Downs

When it was announced last week that a record $748.6 million had been wagered on sports during September in New Jersey that appeared to be more bad news for horse racing. It was the most ever bet in any one state during a month and a sign of the times. The amount legally wagered on sports in this country is soaring, with no end in sight, and it stood to reason that some of that money had been siphoned off from racing. Sports betting is now available in 18 states...

Every year, the Kentucky Downs stakes schedule seems to get richer and attract better horses. This year, there were 16 stakes worth a combined $8.6 million and many were won by horses that could have an impact at the Breeders' Cup. The stakes schedule is a source of pride among the track's management team, but also a source of frustration. Only five of the stakes are graded and those are all Grade III events, which the track's senior vice president and general manager Ted Nicholson called "dumbfounding." "It's frustrating," Nicholson...

Keeneland and the majority owners of Kentucky Downs have made application for a racing license and have proposed the construction of a state-of-the-art racing facility and associated track extension in Kentucky. The proposed facilities, to be located in Corbin and Williamsburg, would feature live Standardbred racing as well as historical racing machines. "Horse racing is an extremely vital part of the Commonwealth's economy," said Ron Winchell, who owns, controls and manages Kentucky Downs with Marc Falcone. "With the addition of a new race track and related amenities in southeastern Kentucky,...

The Runhappy meet at Kentucky Downs, which concluded Wednesday, Sept. 16, saw record betting handle across the six days of live racing that totaled $59,828,44 for a total of 62 races (average per race $964,975), including $9,487,705 on the final day. The previous record of $41,239,699 (average $824,794) was set in 2019. Even with a modest reduction in prize money owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and a two-month absence of revenue from historical racing machines, a record total of $12,337,000 was paid out over the course of the meet, bettering...

As a result of afternoon-long rains that pelted the track and with more inclement weather forecast for Sunday, officials at Kentucky Downs announced late Saturday afternoon that the 11-race program originally scheduled for Sunday would be postponed and run in its entirety on Tuesday. "With the steady rain that we had from the fifth race on and the projected forecast for rain overnight and tomorrow, we felt it the prudent thing to do safety-wise for both horses and riders," said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' senior vice president and general manager....

After winning two Grade Is last year, Got Stormy had a hard time finding the wire first this season, but finally returned to the winner's circle Saturday at Kentucky Downs. Rushing up to contest the pace in the initial strides, the heavy favorite was shuffled back to fifth through a :22.54 opening quarter and :46.27 half-mile. Searching for running room turning for home, the chestnut swung out four wide in the lane and charged clear in the final sixteenth for an authoritative victory. "We always felt that way [that she'd...

Outadore (Outwork) provided his freshman sire (by Uncle Mo) his second black-type winner in the space of eight days, working home best of all to take the Juvenile Sprint S. over a rain-affected Kentucky Downs turf course. Beaten for speed, Outadore settled in the second flight of horses as County Final (Oxbow) dueled on the lead inside of Bodenheimer (Atta Boy Roy) through the middle furlongs. Poised three deep as the field entered the straight, Outadore was roused to the lead leaving the eighth pole and held sway at stablemate...

A full field of 12 and three also-eligibles have been entered for Saturday's GIII Runhappy Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 7. The six-furlong dash will offer up one of the afternoon's toughest handicapping challenges to boot. Totally Boss (Street Boss) pounced from just off the pace to scoop this valuable prize by 1 1/4 lengths last year, then lost all chance when steadied three furlongs from home in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and finished...

Arklow (Arch) and Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}) each make their third appearances in the $1-million Kentucky Turf Cup going a full circuit of the track at Kentucky Downs, with the former looking to add to his victory in the race in 2018 and Zulu Alpha trying to cement his status as this country's best hope for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in trying to annex the Turf Cup back-to-back. Zulu Alpha is in career form at age seven and is a neck away from being unbeaten in four starts...

Duly favored after an easy two-length win going 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on debut July 23, she made the jump up to black-type company look easy at Kentucky Downs Monday. Well off the pace while saving ground against the fence, she continued to rate patiently at the half-mile mark in :48.23. Set down for the drive and shifted out to the center of the course through the long Kentucky Downs stretch, the chestnut seized command inside the final 300 yards and quickly put the race to bed, winning with...

Officials at Kentucky Downs have announced that the track will be promoting support of the Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation during its upcoming meet by enabling owners to donate a percentage of prize money or a flat fee per starter to the organization. Owners can direct the horsemen's bookkeeper to allocate funds from their accounts to Grayson through InCompass Solutions' Track Manager system, and paper forms will be available for owners to fill out in the racing office. Kentucky Downs is kicking off donations with a lead gift of $2,500. "Our sponsorship...

Kentucky Downs will conduct racing without spectators at the track's upcoming meet due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ticket purchases through Kentucky Downs on-line box office will be refunded. "With the surge in cases in Kentucky and Tennessee, we feel it's in our guests' best interest and the state's best interest to not have spectators," said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' Senior Vice President and General Manager. "No one is more disappointed than us to have to make this difficult call. We know our unique meet, with its full fields and country-fair...