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Henderson Horse Track Could Have Instant Racing by September

The owner of Ellis Park in Henderson says he hopes to expand the horse track’s gambling options by Labor Day. Ron Geary wants to move ahead with plans to install instant racing machines, despite an ongoing lawsuit over the legality of those games in Kentucky.

The Courier-Journal and Henderson Gleaner are reporting Geary is in talks with potential investors to become minority owners in Ellis Park. Those investors would kick in $3 million to build a parlor that would hold 177 instant racing machines.

Geary says if the deal is wrapped up soon, the new gambling hall could be ready by the time Ellis Park’s summer racing meet ends on Labor Day.

Gamblers win at instant racing by wagering bets on videos of old horse races, with the identities of the horses, jockeys, and trainers withheld.

The conservative Family Foundation has appealed a Franklin Circuit Court’s ruling that instant racing is legal. The Kentucky Court of Appeals sent the case back to the circuit court so that the Family Foundation could gather more evidence.

Kevin is the News Director at WKU Public Radio. He has been with the station since 1999, and was previously the Assistant News Director, and also served as local host of Morning Edition.
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