A lawyer of the track operator Churchill Downs Inc. informed the Louisiana Racing Commission on May 13th Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Would not continue with his meeting from 2025-26 without any relief from 2025-26.
The lawyer of CDI, Ozair Shariff, spoke in front of the racing commission in Novel Orleans, explained that operations on fairs are unprofitable without income from historical racing game gaming terminals and its betting locations.
HHR devices that resemble slot machines, but the results of which are based on previously managed horse races, increased the wallets and achieved profits in parts of the country for track operators such as CDI, but on March 21, Louisiana's Supreme Court declared an unconstitutional legalization of a statutory determination court without legalizing historical horses without the initial voters require.
CDI, which has had fair terrain since 2004 and operates a casino on the property, can still operate video poker machines on fair terrain and via its off-track network, although the games are apparently not so rewarding.
Paulick Report reported that racing operations alone for fair grounds lose millions annually, Shariff told commissioners, but the income from the slot machines of the route compare the losses and enable fair reasons to achieve extraction.
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“In view of this reality, it is no longer an option to work under the current status quo,” added Shariff to the commissioners, like Nola.com.
The attitude of CDI was made known by the former owner of Fair Grounds, Louie Roussell III, a long-time Louisiana rider who is best known for the fact that he is known for possession and the trained star stars, winner of the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). He said that the CEO of CDI, Bill Carstanjen, threatened to return from the race in Louisiana in a call with him and the Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.
“Don't let them come here and your destitute mouth,” he told the Commission, reported Nola.com.
In 2024 CDI had a net profit of $ 426.8 million in numerous game and racing objects.
“Governor Landry told me that I should tell you to take out your HHR machines, replace you with the video poker machines you have managed and start the process, the legislative process, if you want Hhr machines,” said Roussel, according to Paulick report. “There will be no state subsidies for this race track. None.”
The chairman of the Commission, Edward Koehl, informed the representatives of the CDI at the meeting that if they did not start improvement in the capital in July and the season in November, they would be subject to daily fines.
Tonya Abeln, Vice President of Corporate Communications, did not answer a comment after the LRC meeting on the request of Bloodhorse.
HHR -GAMING, once as a bad alternative to slots, has become an essential strategic focus for CDI. Most of his racing objects, including those in Kentucky and Virginia, offer Hhr -Gaming either on the route or in gaming parlors. CDI also has Exacta Systems, an HHR technology provider.
A patron plays a historic horse race at Derby City Gaming in Louisville, Ky.
According to NOLA.com, there is currently a legislative template by the legislature in Louisiana, which would enable an expansion of video poker machines in bars and truck stops in the federal state. According to the legislation, the first tax revenue of 22 million US dollars from the additional machines would enhance profits on the four race tracks in Louisiana.
The commissioners voted on Tuesday to approved a meeting from autumn to spring 2025-26, although fair grounds did not ask for data.
“We don't accept the racing data,” said Shariff, according to Paulick Report.
Koehl said that the Commission would hold another meeting on June 15, three days after Louisiana's legislative session is planned.
