Horse industry preparing to lobby on gambling

Monday, Feb. 7, 2005 | 9:21 a.m.

FLORENCE, Ky. -- A fledgling organization formed to protect and promote Kentucky's horse industry indicated it would support legislation allowing casinos at racetracks.

Former Gov. Brereton Jones, a Woodford County horse breeder and the chairman of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), said any gambling-related bills would have to benefit the horse industry while providing new tax revenue for other state programs and services.

"If we're going to do what is best for Kentucky, we've got to help education, we've got to help health care," Jones told reporters Saturday afternoon at Turfway Park during a media presentation on KEEP. "We've got so many needs out there, and those needs are not being met."

Jones, who was governor 1991-95 and operates the Airdrie Stud Farm outside of Versailles, offered few details on what type of bill KEEP would support other than it would have to basically restrict gambling to Kentucky's racetracks. Others, including Northern Kentucky developers Jerry Carroll and Bill Yung, have indicated an interest in developing full-blown, land-based casinos in Northern Kentucky and elsewhere across the state.

Four gambling-related bills have been filed during the 2005 General Assembly session that opened last month and ends in mid-March.