Racetrack "Gambles" and loses in Hoptown
Christian county citizens act and make a difference
From Kentucky Citizen Digest, Nov, 1998

Proponents of expanding racetrack gambling in Kentucky thought they had a sure thing when the state legislature quietly passed House Bill 566 last session.  The bill permits existing horse tracks to open “extension” facilities within 60 miles of that track without review by city or county government.  In the past, local governments could decide the gambling issue for themselves, but not anymore.

Damon Thayer, project coordinator for the Kentucky Downs project, said the change in state law allows the Franklin horse track to open a local pari-mutuel betting facility in Hopkinsville despite council opposition.  “It’s a done deal,” Thayer said. “Under the law, we are establishing an extension of the Franklin track in Hopkinsville. Churchill Downs established the precedent for that when it established the Sports Spectrum in Louisville.”

Twice in the past eight years gambling expansion efforts have failed in Hopkinsville. The third attempt via legislative action was supposed to be the charm.  But outside gambling interests neglected to consider Hopkinsville’s sentiment against gambling.  Neither did it help Kentucky Downs when they failed to notify the city in advance of the proposed gambling parlor.

On Aug. 18, within two weeks of discovering the proposed gambling facility, over 150 people packed into the city council chambers to voice their opinions against it. “The effects of gambling can cause too much pain,” said the Rev. Greg Giltner, “and in my business we have to deal with the effects.”  Earlier in the week, Giltner gave out the phone numbers of city council and fiscal court members and encouraged his congregation to call them.

Many other church leaders did the same.  Their phone calls and attendance at the meeting made the difference and the City Council promptly responded. “We need to stop this,” said Councilman Steve Chaffin.  “We need to do this tonight.”

The city council wasted no time and voted unanimously to do what could be done to stop the gambling facility. The crowd applauded enthusiastically, and was commended for its demeanor and presentation by mayor pro tem Gene McIntosh, “This is government at work.  I like this.”

As a result of the strong show of opposition Kentucky Downs voluntarily withdrew their license to open the pari-mutuel gambling facility. “We’re just not happy with the way things have transpired down there and really blame ourselves for most or all of the problems,” said Mark Simendinger, an executive with Kentucky Downs. “It was our intention to be a good neighbor and a good citizen and so far it hasn’t started out that way.”

However, Simendinger indicated that they would like to try the effort again in the future.  But if the last three efforts by Hopkinsville to keep gambling out are any indication, Simendinger would be a great neighbor and good citizen if he kept pari-mutuel betting out of the city altogether.
 

Key Family Foundation Contacts: Kent Ostrander, Executive Director Martin Cothran, Senior Associate Policy Analyst