CDI-Horsemen Dispute Threatens Derby Online, Phone Wagering
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CDI-Horsemen Dispute Threatens
Kentucky Derby Online, Phone Wagering |
With negotiations between Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) and Kentucky horsemen over account-wagering revenues for purses "stalled," people who want to "bet the bulk of the Kentucky Oaks and Derby day racing cards on TwinSpires.com likely will have to find other means," according to Gregory Hall of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. Friday's Oaks and Saturday's Derby and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic will "be available for online and telephone wagering because of a prior agreement." But CDI Thursday said that other races on both days will "not be available on most account-wagering sites," including CDI's TwinSpires (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 5/2). The COURIER-JOURNAL's Hall Thursday reported CDI and Kentucky horsemen had been working to reach an agreement on the wagering dispute. Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association Exec Dir Marty Maline Wednesday said that CDI had "revised a previous offer, proposing a quarter-percentage point more of the takeout toward purses." Hall noted the previous offer would have contributed "at least 3.5[%] toward purses." Horsemen now receive about 3.25% of account wagering revenue for purses and are seeking "roughly 7[%] of the takeout." CDI President Steve Sexton said the track's proposal is "tiered," but declined to provide specifics (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 5/1).
SIMULCASTS: In Ft. Lauderdale, Tom Jicha reports unless Kentucky horsemen and CDI's Calder Race Course in Miami reach a last-minute agreement, Saturday's Derby and Friday's Oaks and their "stakes-rich undercards at Churchill Downs will not be available for simulcast wagering at Calder." Other local pari-mutuel sites "served by Calder ... also are restricted from the simulcasts." The purse dispute has led Kentucky horsemen to "deny Churchill Downs ... permission to send any of its races into South Florida." Horsemen in Ohio, Maryland and Delaware also "have denied Calder their races." Calder also has "been unable to send its races out of Florida," and because 90% of the handle comes "from out-of-state bettors, Calder has cut purses 30[%]." Calder President Ken Dunn Thursday said that there was "no apparent movement toward a settlement." Dunn noted that Kentucky Derby day "generally draws Calder's second highest attendance of the year" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 5/2).
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Barbaro Owners Unveil Model Of 10-Foot
Statue To Be Mounted At Churchill Downs |
ONLINE GAMBLING: Gaming and banking industry experts Thursday said that some fans looking to place bets for the Derby online "may find their transactions blocked by banks and credit card companies trying to avoid running afoul of unclear federal regulations." In Miami, Halimah Abdullah reports banking and online gambling advocates are pushing the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Reserve and Department of Justice to "clarify whether a regulatory exemption in the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act that allows Internet gambling on horseracing could also mean banks and credit card companies would be penalized for processing the money from those wagers." Under the law, U.S. banks and credit card companies are "prohibited from accepting payments for online bets or wagers," but financial institutions are "largely left to figure out which gambling transactions are illegal, and block payments" (MIAMI HERALD, 5/2).
TRIBUTE: Roy and Gretchen Jackson, owners of late '06 Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro, yesterday unveiled a model of a 10-foot bronze statue featuring the horse and jockey Edgar Prado that in '09 will be mounted in front of Churchill Downs' main gate, Gate 1 (Kentucky Derby).
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