WKY Development, LLC — a joint venture between Churchill Downs Incorporated and Keeneland Association Inc. — reportedly filed an application Tuesday with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to build a $125 million racing facility in Oak Grove and requested live standardbred racing dates at Louisville Downs in 2019 and in 2020 at its proposed venue in Christian County.
Beginning in 2020, if approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC), Globe Newswire reports that live standardbred racing would permanently move to the proposed Oak Grove venue raising the profile of the Kentucky circuit and building larger purses in the process.
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Vince Gabbert says bringing standardbred racing to Christian County in 2020 and beyond is critical to maintaining Kentucky’s preeminent status as the horse racing capital of the world. He went on to say they are optimistic the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will approve their application to ensure the standardbred horse racing circuit continues to thrive in the Commonwealth.
According to Globe Newswire, the proposed Oak Grove facility represents a $125 million economic development project in Christian County, creating nearly 400 direct full and part-time positions and an estimated 800 direct construction jobs, according to the article. The project includes a historical racing machine facility featuring up to 1,500 machines, a 125-room hotel with event center and food/beverage venues, a 1,200-person capacity grandstand and event space for indoor events, a 3,000-person capacity outdoor amphitheater and state, and a state-of-the-art equestrian center including indoor and outdoor arenas.
