Ky. racing industry, casino supporters can’t agree on plan

Joe Biesk

Tuesday, March 9, 2004 | 9:36 a.m.

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The House sponsor of legislation to bring casino gambling to Kentucky said Monday it's unlikely to pass during this session of the General Assembly.

Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark said he met with horse racing industry officials Monday afternoon and they could not agree on a plan.

"There'll be no gaming legislation as far as I'm concerned passed this session," Clark told reporters in his Capitol Annex office.

Clark introduced legislation that would put to voters a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow for casino gambling. His plan calls for as many as nine casinos throughout the state.

Casino gambling would be a windfall for the state that could bring in more than $437 million each year, Clark has said.

But industry officials could not agree on a plan, Clark said. Particularly, the industry would not agree to a provision that would allow local communities to have the final say whether they wanted a casino.

They also were unable to agree on terms that would have Churchill Downs build a casino in downtown Louisville, Clark said.

"I don't know if they're being greedy, but they walked away from $1.5 billion because they couldn't agree amongst themselves," Clark said.

Bob Elliston, a Turfway Park official who has been the racing industry's spokesman, declined to comment as he left Clark's office. He did not return a phone call later seeking comment.

Clark's legislative package includes a proposed constitutional amendment and a separate bill that spells out the details.

Industry officials wanted some of the bill -- about five pages worth -- in the proposed constitutional amendment, Clark said. That would have been "bad public policy" because it would have required another constitutional amendment to make future changes, Clark said.

Clark's legislation was scheduled for a hearing before a House panel on Wednesday. Whether the legislation goes before the committee would depend on whether industry officials change their mind, Clark said.