Mitch Dennison has resigned as general manager of racing at Louisiana Downs and Kato Moy, recently hired as general manager of the casino side of the Bossier City track, also is no longer employed there, the Shreveport Bossier Journal reports.
In further disarray on Louisiana Downs' front side, the BloodHorse reports that almost $2 million reserved for the horsemen's purse account is unaccounted for and that the matter has been turned over to the state's Attorney General and the Louisiana Racing Commission.
Dennison, a former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen who oversaw mutuels, facility projects, and sponsorships in addition to racing, resigned Tuesday, three months after being hired, replacing longtime Director of Racing David Heitzmann.
He confirmed his resignation to the Shreveport Bossier Journal.
“Mitch is a fantastic person, but right now I really can't comment,” Kevin Preston, founder and president of Premier Gaming Group, which bought Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack in January, told the publication. “We have a fantastic racing team…I had a great meeting with them (Wednesday) morning. We will not miss a beat on the racing side.”
A Shreveport Bossier Journal Twitter post Friday reported that almost $2 million in purse money was “missing” and included a link to a story, but the story has since been deleted. However, the BloodHorse reported Sunday that the money in question, generated from slot machines and pari-mutuel wagering, has yet to be located.
“It's a legal issue, and it is in the hands of the Attorney General and Racing Commission in our state,” Benard Chatters, president of the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, told the BloodHorse. “Hopefully, we can get a quick resolution. There are a lot of things going on in the (Thoroughbred) industry right now that are upsetting to the industry, and we certainly hope this can be resolved as soon as possible.”
Louisiana Downs' current Thoroughbred meet ends September 27.
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