NEWS
Indiana tracks still at odds over off-track betting
Posted: Monday, October 07, 2002
Indianapolis Downs and Hoosier Park continue to spar over off-track betting licenses, riverboat gambling subsidies, and lawsuits.
Indianapolis Downs will open its first meeting on December 6 when it conducts a Standardbred meet, while Thoroughbreds will not debut at the mile oval until 2003. Hoosier Park is concerned that the new track, located 42 miles south of Hoosier in Shelbyville, Indiana, will cut into its profits.
Indianapolis Downs wants to open an off-track betting parlor in Marion County, but Hoosier staunchly opposes that move. Last year, Hoosier handled more than $66-million at its downtown Indianapolis parlor—70% of its total OTB revenue for 2001.
"How can we compete fairly when we are not allowed into the largest market in the state?" Indianapolis Downs attorney Robert Hammerle said. "You can't argue for open competition and then allow one side to run a monopoly."
Hoosier Park President Rick Moore said his track already stands to lose 20% of its revenue because of Indianapolis Downs, and allowing the new track to operate a Marion County OTB would further erode Hoosier's bottom line.
Indianapolis Downs does not necessarily want an OTB downtown.
"Remember, our first application was for a track in Lawrence [11 miles east of Indianapolis]," Doug Brown, another attorney for Indianapolis Downs, told the Indianapolis Star. "I think there are parts of the Northeast, South, and West [sides] that could support an OTB."
Area resident Neal Dirk, who visits Hoosier's OTB ten times more often than the track itself agreed with Brown.
"There are some hindrances here, like traffic and parking problems, especially if there is a Colts game," Dirk said. "They should put one on the Southside, where I live. A lot of people would like that."
