Shareholders asked for lobbying help

Friday, June 21, 2002 | 11:17 a.m.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Churchill Downs Inc. President Tom Meeker asked Thursday for shareholders' help in lobbying lawmakers for new forms of gambling at its race tracks, something the company was unable to accomplish in Kentucky this year.

"To the extent you have contacts with members of legislative bodies, I urge you to talk with them about alternative gaming," he said at the company's annual shareholders' meeting at Trackside.

Meeker said Churchill needs new forms of gambling to stay competitive with casinos and racing companies that have slot machines.

Churchill spent $171,007 lobbying legislators during the recent General Assembly. That's second only to the amount spent by the Kentucky Education Association.

Although Kentucky tracks succeeded for the first time in getting a bill to permit video lottery terminals drafted, it died in the House without a vote.

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