Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Fair Grounds Race Course Plans for Slot Machine at Racetrack
Posted on Thursday, February 15th, 2007
Fair Grounds Race Course and its parent company, Churchill Downs Incorporated has confirmed their intent to move forward with plans to build a slot machine gaming facility adjacent to the historic racetrack in New Orleans.
Construction of a 30,000-square-foot facility that would house a maximum of 700 slot machines was scheduled to begin in September 2005, but was delayed in late August of that year when Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath caused significant damage to the racetrack and its stable area as well as many of Fair Grounds’ Finish Line Off-Track Betting facilities around the New Orleans community.
“Following the hurricane, our priorities were to locate our employees and help them with their immediate needs, and then repair and reopen our pari-mutuel and video poker facilities,” said Steve Sexton, executive vice president for Churchill Downs Incorporated. “With our repairs completed and this season’s race meet well underway, we can now focus fully on plans to implement slot machine gaming at Fair Grounds.”
Fair Grounds is also seeking permission from New Orleans City officials to renovate the first floor of its on-site
simulcast-wagering parlor and operate a temporary slot machine gaming facility, housing only 225 machines, out of that structure while the permanent facility is built. Fair Grounds’ request to operate a temporary slot machine gaming facility is subject to the approval of the New Orleans City Planning Commission and the New Orleans City Council.
Pending the approval of New Orleans city officials, renovations to the simulcast-wagering facility would begin in late spring, following the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival hosted by Fair Grounds, with a target date for opening the temporary facility in October 2007. Construction of the permanent facility, which has already been approved by New Orleans City officials, is scheduled to begin this summer, with a target date for completion in the late fall of 2008.
Fair Grounds Race Course, the nation’s third-oldest Thoroughbred racing facility, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated and also operates off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana.
Fair Grounds’ 135th season, the first live racing in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, continues through March 25, 2007, and is headlined by the 94th running of the $600,000 Grade II Louisiana Derby on March 10, 2007.
"Fair Grounds Race Course Plans for Slot Machine at Racetrack" was posted on Thursday, February 15th, 2007 at 9:27 am and is filed under Fair Grounds, Horse Racing Industry, Race Tracks News, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
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