by Frank Angst

While the Kentucky General Assembly adjourned a special session without new legislation to allow video lottery terminals, supporters of the Kentucky horse industry rallied at Keeneland Race Course on Wednesday night.

Supporters filled all 700 seats of the Keeneland Sales Pavilion and overflowed into the facility’s hallways as Governor Steve Beshear, who supports the addition of VLTs at racetracks, rallied the crowd. Beshear hopes to take action within the next 18 months.

“We either need to change some senators’ minds or change some senators,” Beshear said as the crowd cheered.

A bill to add video lottery terminals at Kentucky tracks that would have provided revenue for purses and breeders’ funds passed the Kentucky House of Representatives during the special session but failed to reach the Senate floor when a committee halted it with a 10-5 vote. Nine of the ten Senators who opposed the bill are Republicans and the other is an Independent.

Senators and Representatives who supported the bill were recognized at Wednesday’s rally. Although largely split along party lines with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed, Keeneland President Nick Nicholson noted that several Republicans crossed over to support VLTs.

“Let’s thank our Representatives and Senators who have supported us,” Nicholson said, before looking ahead, “And let’s get on with it.”

Nicholson said he was impressed with the turnout, which appeared to surpass 1,000, for the rally that was not organized until Tuesday.

Kentucky Equine Education Project Executive Patrick Neely said his group plans to continue to push for added gaming at tracks to help the industry. He said KEEP plans to make another push at the General Assembly’s regular session in January 2010.

For video of Keeneland President Nick Nicholson, click here.

For video of former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones, click here.

For video of Kentucky state Senator Ed Worley, click here.

Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times