The state of Kansas has accredited 1,000 historic horse racing machines, which is a precursor to the return of Thoroughbred racing within the state. Whereas Kansas has not had stay Thoroughbred racing since 2008, the objective is for the game to return within the fall of 2026 and probably increase after 2028.
If all the things goes in response to plan, Eureka Downs in Eureka, Kan., could have horses in its beginning gate lower than a yr from now. However there may be a lot work to be achieved till that may occur.Â
The observe closed in 2011, however due to a coalition of native entities, together with the house owners, the Greenwood County Honest Board got here along with a plan to revitalize the ability to serve the neighborhood with greater than racing.Â
“So far as stay horse racing at Eureka taking place in 2026, that’s what we’re hoping for,” mentioned Kansas Racing and Gaming Fee authorities relations supervisor Randy Evans. “Proper now, the house owners of the observe nonetheless have a whole lot of work (to do). The observe’s not prepared proper now, and they’re within the means of making an attempt to get that observe able to, in actual fact, run stay horse races at Eureka Downs.”
With the state not having had stay racing in a number of years, it required capital funding to begin the method of getting Eureka Downs in situation to host racing. The state budgeted $2 million towards renovating the observe, which additionally benefited from numerous volunteers working to scrub up the venue in addition to highschool carpentry college students constructing places of work, in response to the Eureka Herald newspaper.Join BloodHorse Day by day
Peach Madl, the chief director of the Kansas Thoroughbred Affiliation, mentioned that the $2 million allotted by the state was anticipated to be paid again, however Eureka Downs acquired a $1 million grant that allowed the work to start.
She mentioned among the many efforts underway, guided by new observe basic supervisor Mike Weiss, will probably be putting in a brand new racing floor.Â
The state accredited Eureka Downs for as much as 44 days of racing, however it’s beginning conservatively with 10-16 days initially.
However cash to assist the trade will come from the statute signed by Gov. Laura Kelly. The HHR machines will present 3% of their gross income to 2 horse racing funds, with 30% going to the Kansas Horse Breeding Improvement Fund and 70% going to the Honest Horse Racing Profit Fund, which can present for purse dietary supplements, capital enhancements, and working expenditures.
“We’ll have extra days, as a result of there’s going to be extra money than might be spent,” Madl mentioned. “If you happen to take the predictions of the 1,000 HHR machines, it may be thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands (of {dollars}).”
Picture: Courtesy Pink MileHistorical horse racing machines, just like these at Pink Mile in Lexington, might quickly gas a revival for stay racing in Kansas
The HHR machines will probably be positioned at an leisure venue known as Gilley’s in Park Metropolis, Kan., about an hour west of Eureka. Businessman Phil Ruffin, who owns Gilley’s, unsuccessfully tried to reopen The Woodlands racetrack in Kansas Metropolis. Gilley’s could have its grand opening Dec. 15.
However with the HHR machines and the flexibility to simulcast, Ruffin is able to assist generate cash for the trade.Â
“We did not hear something for a number of years (after the failed Woodlands efforts) after which we began listening to concerning the success of HHR machines,” Madl mentioned. “It’s the Ruffin household, (they) have been engaged on this for years. It went by the legislature in ’24, very excessive approval. The governor vetoed it as a result of it missed a approach to fund enforcement on it, and so we needed to run it again by. After which she signed it in July.”
With out HHR, there isn’t any racing. With out racing, there isn’t any HHR.Â
“HHR received the backing of the horse individuals as soon as they realized 3% tax on probably thousands and thousands of {dollars} might actually complement the horse racing trade,” Evans mentioned.Â
There may very well be extra on the best way.
All of this began, a minimum of from a legislative perspective, with Kansas legalizing sports activities betting in 2022. That state legislation allowed for the 1,000 HHR machines solely in Sedgwick County, which is the place Park Metropolis is positioned. That very same legislation mentioned the one place in Kansas the place stay racing may very well be held is Eureka, till 2028.Â
That doesn’t imply there are concrete plans in place. As an alternative, Evans mentioned, it is extra like ideas and concepts that some individuals have about the way forward for the game in Kansas.
“The most important facility within the state of Kansas was The Woodlands racetrack again within the late ’90s, 2000s. That’s now an Amazon warehouse,” he mentioned. “So there isn’t any big horse racing facility. Somebody must construct one. There are a pair smaller tracks, however they’ll run into the identical drawback as Eureka is the place we’ve not had stay racing since 2008; there’s a whole lot of landscaping and stuff that must be achieved to get the tracks up and secure. So sure, I feel there are hopes that there will probably be extra than simply the one facility.”
Picture: BloodHorse LibraryWandarous wins the 1990 Kansas Metropolis Handicap at The Woodlands
He added that the app-based sportsbooks are doubtless ready to see how profitable Eureka’s relaunch is earlier than extra apply for licenses to function inside the state, which might see additional advantages to the trade.
Along with getting the ability prepared, Kansas must rebuild its breeding trade. In response to the Jockey Membership, from 2014-23, the variety of registered foals within the state dropped from 20 to 7.
“Making it make sense to foal in Kansas, monetary sense proper now,” Madl mentioned of the largest problem forward. “We have all needed to go to different states simply in order that, both as a industrial breeder or breeding to run, in order that we’d have the ability to have our horses in restricted races. So now we’re making an attempt to get individuals to say, ‘Dangle on, begin foaling right here as a result of it should repay.'”
