NEWS
Thousand turn out to support Kentucky horse industry - with video
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 4:32 PM
by Frank Angst
With Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear delivering the most passionate speech of the day, about 1,000 people gathered on the Capitol steps in Frankfort to rally support for added gambling at Kentucky tracks to support the state’s horse racing and breeding.
Organized by the Kentucky Equine Education Project, Wednesday’s hour-long morning program featured speeches from Beshear, First Lady Jane Beshear, former Governor and Airdrie Stud owner Brereton Jones, and others including Kentucky Representative David Osborne (R-Jefferson). Osborne said the rally was in support of horses, not slot machines.
Beshear has called a special session of the general assembly to consider the addition of video lottery terminals at state tracks. The special session will continue at least through Friday.
Despite the humid weather, the crowd enthusiastically reacted to calls to allow Kentucky to compete with neighboring states that support racing and breeding with additional gambling revenue.
To view an interview with Gov. Beshear, click here.
To view an interview with Brereton Jones, click here.
To view an interview with trainer Dallas Stewart, click here.
Frank Angst is senior writer for THOROUGHBRED TIMES
