Must be reverse jet lag or something, but we’re getting things back in gear after an adventurous weekend and a stimulating Breakfast of Champions with Bellarmine basketball coach Scott Davenport this morning. Here’s what’s going on…
Task Force About Nothing?: Let’s just say that the idea of a library task force organized by the Metro Council sounds dubious. Councilman Glen Stuckel, who rarely sticks his neck out for anything, is organizing the group but is short on details. And there’s just no library funding in the works. [Courier]
King-Sized Deal: Jim King has documents that he says proves that his daughter Katie’s mortgage was legit, that it didn’t break election finance laws when he gave her money for her campaign. Now newly elected Judge Katie King is having to document paperwork for the state in light of an activist complaint. [WLKY]
More Track Trouble: This is not the kind of press Churchill Downs needs, but it appears bad economic conditions are getting worse. A horseman’s group rep tells the C-J that the track is talking about cutting Wednesday racing because there aren’t enough horses to fill race cards. The disadvantage of competing with out-of-state tracks with slots is getting to be serious. [Courier]
The Cost of Mail: For anyone still using the U.S. Post Office to mail bills and letters, the cost goes up 2 cents today to 44 cents. The post office says it will cost the average citizen $3 a year. Don’t know about you, but it won’t cost me that much. [USPS]
Slow Hiring: Education commissioner Jon Draud officially resigned in December. Today is May 11, so isn’t it interesting that they’re saying a search firm is “already” advertising the position? The target hire date is in August. [WFPL]
Blame This Guy for Pitno Rumor: Don’t expect any apologies from Adrian Wojnarowski, the Yahoo Sports! writer who claimed “multiple sources” had told him Rick Pitino was interested in the Sacramento Kings job. The story prompted tons of press and ultimately a U of L denial. Heard Pat Forde of ESPN defending his colleague on radio this morning, but reporting that kind of rumor is flat out irresponsible. And he even got Ms. Sypher’s first name wrong in his story.
10 responses so far ↓
1 lt // May 11, 2009 at 12:51 pm
I am not sure if too many people are aware of this, but recently quite a few of the pay on-line companies, including LG&E, are charging a fee to pay on-line. Quite a bit more than the price of a stamp.
2 Mark H // May 11, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I really think casino gaming has a negative impact to lower-income families, but I think at some point you have to do a cost-benefit analysis and see what negative impacts keeping gaming out of the state brings.
The bar has been raised by the neighboring states and tracks that have embraced gaming as an easy fix-all to lowering revenues and we need to decide if we are going to compete or allow our horse industry to weaken to irrelevance. Like it or not, there no-name tracks associated with casinos that post bigger purses than Churchill. How many 2 and 3-horse races are there going to have to be, before people just stop betting?
I’m not at all happy about it, but if the state legislature does not enact gaming, our racing industry is going to degrade to an unprestigious level. It is just a matter of time before Churchill will not be considered for events like the Breeders Cup since the organizers will be unable to get a percentage of the casino take on that weekend. The writing is plain to see, I guess I will have to hold my nose and support gaming for the preservation of a cultural treasure.
3 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // May 11, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Alternatively, we can take a bold stand against the false economy of expanded gaming. If a business has to add slots to stay in business, what does that say about the abilities of the management of that business? Certainly, Churchill Down can think of other ways to produce revenue.
4 Gordon // May 11, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Agree with Steve.
5 Mark H // May 11, 2009 at 4:02 pm
The men of the Alamo took a stand as well. I don’t disagree with your stance Steve and Gordon, but unfortunately the other states have already made that choice to allow gaming. It really puts our tracks at a disadvantage.
Churchill can race at night, have topless night, and free Sham-Wow giveaway night, but the reality is that they can’t compete with the other tracks that have gaming.
6 Gordon // May 11, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Don’t ever underestimate the power of the Sham Wow! And maybe throw in a Snuggy with a free reading light?
7 Crutnacker // May 11, 2009 at 8:42 pm
If you’re a horse person, you are going to go where the money is. If CD can’t afford to offer the purses they do in other states, then you aren’t going to get the good horses or trainers.
I was out there on Sunday and the races all seemed to have a limited number of runners versus previous years, a byproduct of this.
I would rather go to the track any day vs. the smoke filled harborer of urine encrusted seats that is Horseshoe.
I would agree that CD has part of the problem here. Sunday they were understaffed, making lines very long and the traffic flow problematic. Additionally, the refreshments are overpriced and the accomodations, even with renovations, are still substandard compared to other tracks I’ve been to.
That said, I had a far better time for a lot cheaper than I would pulling a lever for a half an hour at Horseshoe. If CD gets slots or casino gambling, I’d say they could destroy Horseshoe, bringing a substantial portion of that revenue here.
8 Mark H // May 11, 2009 at 11:09 pm
The Snuggy-Night just might even the playing field.
Unfortunately the Ronco Automatic Glass Froster Night was canceled due to the ban on the CFCs emitted by the Freon chilling cartridge. My personal Ronco favorite….Only in America, could you instantly frost a mug and destroy the ozone layer for the low low price of $8.88.
9 Willie Loomis // May 12, 2009 at 12:19 am
For ten years Kentuckians have paved Indiana roads and paid their teachers. Why? Because we have always been and will continue to be a backward thinking state – afraid of change and progress. Hell, we can’t even build a bridge. How many years did it take to paint the existing bridge? Our leaders and those who influenct them are pathetic.
Bring on the casinos and let the money stay in Kentucky. The Horseshoe management laughs at us everytime the armored car pulls away with a full load.
10 Bob // May 13, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Well maybe if Kentucky didn’t have idiots running the state the Downs would be able to get more money. The state should have put a casino in downtown Louisville years ago that way they could compete against the one out in Harrison County. It’s pretty crazy that one has to drive 15 or more miles out there just to throw a 100 bucks down to have some fun. But I guess the fools in New Albany and Jeffersonville got theirs from having the boat elsewhere. Oh well, I guess we will go to Horseshoe or we will head up to Belterra unless they get something in Louisville.
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