by Frank Angst

Kentucky horsemen plan to take no immediate action against Churchill Downs on Wednesday, when the Louisville track cuts overnight purses by 20%.

Churchill announced the cut after horsemen refused to allow the track’s simulcast signal to be sent to advanced-deposit-wagering outlets. Horsemen, who have not approved the signal as they pursue an increased share of advance-deposit-wagering revenue, said the cut is not warranted.

On Tuesday evening, state horsemen’s groups met for two hours in Louisville. Rick Hiles, president of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, said the purse account for the Churchill meet is down less than 1%.

“With that type of decline you would usually not do anything,” Hiles said to the 150 horsemen at the meeting.

Doug McSwain, a Lexington-based lawyer for the Kentucky HBPA, said the cut is retaliatory. He said horsemen are considering a lawsuit.

Hiles told horsemen he expects most of the 20% cut to be made up to the horsemen at the end of the meet.

Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times