Horse industry may support gambling proposal

Thursday, Sept. 15, 2005 | 9:56 a.m.

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Horse interests, at least some of them, have decided on an approach to expanded gambling in Kentucky that will be revealed Friday, but there are still alternative proposals that are sure to once again complicate the debate.

A statement from the Kentucky Equine Education Project announcing a press conference for that day said it would present a "bold legislative initiative aimed at increasing the state's revenue for critical services without a broad-based tax increase."

"I agree with that part of it," said state Sen. David Boswell, D-Owensboro. "But it's the rest of it I've got a little problem with."

Historically, the horse interests that have supported casino gambling in Kentucky have wanted the licenses for such operations to go only to existing race tracks.

Boswell said there is little reason to believe the horse interests have abandoned that approach.

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