It used to be a very nice event. It was promoted and very well attended. Every seat in the place was taken. Every betting window was open because of the heavy crowds. The place looked nice. Obviously it was not the Derby, but you had the feeling that you were at a special event.

 

In the last few years hardly anyone goes. Turfway is dirty and falling apart. Our seats are on the 4th floor. There was no concession stand open. Hundreds of seats empty. We had water dripping down from the ceiling. It has turned into a nasty place.

 

I love horse racing and I just hate to see how Turfway has been left to rot.

 

I will say the VIP Tent was as nice it has been in a lot of years. Huge crowd, awesome set-up by Maker's Mark hosted by Master Distiller Greg Davis, and surprisingly great food. Pricey ticket....but they did a nice job with it.

Used to hang outside the VIP tent for fun, could tell you a few Marge Schott stories.

I will say the VIP Tent was as nice it has been in a lot of years. Huge crowd, awesome set-up by Maker's Mark hosted by Master Distiller Greg Davis, and surprisingly great food. Pricey ticket....but they did a nice job with it.

 

As they should...

 

I agree with 75center on the long term decline of TP. Was fortunate enough to have a lot of great times and memories in the late 80s to mid 90s at the track. The Jim Beam was our NKY Derby and those were literally "the days. Met and had a lot of fun with folks in the VIP tent ( as well as, outside the tent ). Noticed a big decline in service and food around 93. I'm happy to have pardoned that for what followed.

 

Thankfully we set new expectations and would enjoy very cold draft beer at Tumbleweed pre-race, discuss the races, devise a game plan, and more importantly just have fun. Would visit about 4 times a year. And on my last night....

 

Had won $43 on a odds favorite exacta, however, got on an elevator mid session with a couple friends. The elevator doors opened and there was Eddie Arcaro, 1948 Triple Crown Winner on Citation and Steve Cauthen, the last Triple Crown winner on Affirmed in 1978 ( hard to fit them and those horses on the elevator ). I recognized Cauthen and introduced myself. There was a dinner that night honoring Mr. Arcaro and both champions of horse racing were able to share some great life insights on an elevator to some wide eyed 20 somethings!

 

It was my just dropped a 12 point monster buck...just stop and walk away moment. Mr. Arcaro died less than three years later at the age of 81. I haven't been back to TP to witness or bet on a race since. And unless something extraordinary happens with a re-vitalization of the track down the road, why taint a pinnacle moment!

 

I guess I'm old school or just plain dumb...but call it a hunch, I haven't missed much since that evening...

Couple buddies and I had full intention of going yesterday, until we saw the time of the UK vs. UC game and that ended those thoughts. Turfway really is a bit of a dump these days. It's a shame.

 

My brother attended and watched the games from Blinkers. Said it was great.

I went there Friday night. What a freaking dump.

My brother attended and watched the games from Blinkers. Said it was great.

 

We were in blinkers watching the game for awhile. I can't say it was great. It was the only place with decent TV's on that level. Still, no concession on that level and no bar when we were there. Heard they eventually did open one up.

 

I was stupid to pay $35.00 each for tickets in the stands that we have had for years. Halfway through the day, almost everybody sitting around us just came from downstairs and sat for free. Definately will not pay for them next year, if there is a next year. Turfway has become an awful dump.

 

Not sure I would pay for the VIP tent. Will probably bring chairs and sit outside and enjoy the day.

I went there Friday night. What a freaking dump.

 

I feel a bit dirty when I leave the place. Keeneland it ain't.

I feel a bit dirty when I leave the place. Keeneland it ain't.

 

You got that right!! I've always enjoyed horse racing, although most of my experience when I was young was with Harness Racing. I had stopped going for years, but a few years I ago, I started going to Turfway off and on during their season, and the experience was pretty much in line with what I was used to. Then, I went to Keeneland for the first time a couple of years ago. And it absolutely ruined Turfway for me. Even Belterra (the old River Downs) is so much nicer, even though it is smaller and the lack of windows annoys me. I haven't been to Turfway once this year. I do some betting on line, and the races I've seen at Turfway have been pretty lackluster...very few entries, low purses. I think it's beyond dying a slow death...I think it is dying quickly. The horse racing industry in my home state of Delaware was nearly dead in the early 90's, and opening casino's at the 3 parks absolutely saved them. I think thats the only way Turfway makes it, but with the time it's going to take to get a casino approved (which may never happen) and built, it's probably too late.

A casino owns Turfway. I wonder if they are purposely letting it fall apart to show legislators that they need gambling. If Kentucky ever legalizes gambling, that place would be a showplace almost immediately.

 

As someone once said here on BGP, the fox bought the hen house. That Casino over in Cincinnati is doing fine. Horse racing competes with with gambling dollars. However, if tracks get gambling, then Turfway is a whole different investment. Unless Ky allows gambling, the current owners could not care less about Turfway.

Ceasars (Horseshoe) owns 51% of Turfway Park.

 

I'm not convinced that protecting their interests is their motivation. Closing it down and selling it for development would have the same end result.

 

Frankfort seems in no hurry to leagalize casino wagering, and Turfway does the minimum to stay afloat.

Ceasars (Horseshoe) owns 51% of Turfway Park.

 

I'm not convinced that protecting their interests is their motivation. Closing it down and selling it for development would have the same end result.

 

Frankfort seems in no hurry to leagalize casino wagering, and Turfway does the minimum to stay afloat.

 

And Belterra Park helps keep Turfway afloat by not having a simulcast agreement with the major tracks this Winter and pretty much doing everything they can for the casino part and not much for the racing part.

 

Race track patrons in the NKY/ Southern Ohio area can't catch a break.