What I find really surprising about the following article is that Churchill says they were approached by the Racing Commission to take additional September dates, Turfway says they were blindsided, Kentucky Downs asked for more dates and not a peep out of Keeneland. If this is true about the Commission, I don't consider this a best practice. What this article doesn't mention is what a DRF article from last week said about what Churchill will gain in taking September dates. Something really stinks in Kentucky:
“The proposal makes enormous financial sense to Churchill, which operates the largest account-wagering company in the United States. After Labor Day, racing in Southern California shifts from Del Mar to Fairplex Park for three weeks, giving Churchill an opportunity to grab a significant slice of the national simulcast market while the major Southern California tracks are on a live-racing respite. Running in September would also allow Churchill to become the host track for all simulcast revenues throughout Kentucky in September, a designation that would reap a sizeable amount of additional revenue for the company.”
Latest article from the Lexington Herald-Leader:
http://www.kentucky.com/2012/10/08/2364117/september-switch-could-end-year.html
