Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear fortified his positions on historical horse racing and sports wagering on Wednesday evening, calling on lawmakers to be “bold” and approve both during the 2021 General Assembly which begins on Jan. 5, reports the Kentucky Herald-Leader. Gov. Beshear's comments were made in a 20-minute speech he gave to the virtually-held legislative preview conference for the Kentucky Chamber.
Gov. Beshear has long been a supporter of both historical horse racing and sports wagering. The former has come under fire in 2020, however, due to a Kentucky Supreme Court decision in September which declared at least one version of historical horse racing terminal to not constitute pari-mutuel wagering, and thus to be illegal.
In response to the state's Supreme Court ruling, Churchill Downs has halted major construction projects at both it's Louisville, Ky. flagship track and at the recently-purchased Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
Gov. Beshear urged lawmakers to legalize historical horse racing in support of Kentucky jobs and the over $21 million it contributes to the state's budget.
Read more at the Kentucky Herald-Leader.
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