The filing by Selena Stronach also sought records of payments made by the group to settle any such claims, stating it was likely that misconduct “occurred in the corporate environment and included the misuse of corporate assets.”

In dismissing the motion last Wednesday, Justice Peter Osborne found there was “simply no evidence” in the record that the requested documents existed.

Sexual Assault Charges

In June, family patriarch Frank Stronach was charged with rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, forcible confinement, and sexual assault in relation to a series of alleged attacks on women occurring from 1977 to February this year, which he denies.

Its assets include California’s Santa Anita Racetrack, Gulfstream Park in Florida, and the Pimlico Racecourse in Maryland, as well as training centers and simulcast operations across the country.

Bitter Family Feud

Selena Stronach’s filing was part of a separate 2019 civil lawsuit that accuses Belinda Stronach, the company’s current CEO, chair, and president, among others, of corporate mismanagement. Belinda is Frank’s daughter and Selena’s aunt.

In 2018, Frank Stronach, who no longer has anything to do with the running of the company, filed a similar lawsuit against his daughter and other family members. It was settled in 2020, with Stronach being awarded a stallion and breeding business.

I appreciate the court’s thoughtful consideration of the matter and recognition that the criminal proceedings against my father are entirely unrelated to the now five-year-old civil litigation brought forward by my niece, Selena Stronach,” Belinda Stronach said in a statement.

“I look forward to proceeding with the civil trial as scheduled in the actions of Selena and my brother, Andrew Stronach, and to resolving this difficult chapter,” she added.

‘Fishing Expedition’

In court last week, Mark Gelowitz accused Selena Stronach of being on a “fishing expedition,” adding that her motion was merely trying to embarrass his clients.

Selena Stronach’s lawyer, Matthew Gottlieb, claimed that the Stronach Group’s failure to categorically deny the existence of misconduct settlements suggested they existed.

Osborne denied Gottileb’s request to cross-examine the defendants.

The post Stronach Group Family Bicker in Court Over Founder Frank’s Misconduct Charges appeared first on Casino.org.

Three horses died and many more were injured when the category EF-3 tornado hit on May 25, Memorial Day weekend.

But now, the reels are spinning again on the newly carpeted gaming floor and the track will be ready to go when the racing season starts on September 9.

‘Back to Work’

On Wednesday, Cherokee officials, casino employees, and the Claremore Chamber of Commerce all attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening.

“Finishing this project, even in the short period of time, means the workforce that we maintained during this downtime means they can get back to work,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. told 2 News Oklahoma.

It means the economic impact that we have through Will Rogers Downs in the community and the Cherokee Nation will continue. So, it’s a very proud day. I am glad to see it,” he added.

Hoskin said that during the downtime, the tribe was able to move all employees to other businesses. The tribe owns 10 casinos on its 7,000 square-mile reservation in northeastern Oklahoma.

“We made sure that people continued to get a paycheck, and that’s the most important thing,” Hoskin said. “Having them back in what is their work home, it is a real family here, it is real special to them.”

Speedy Recovery

The local horse racing industry praised the speed at which the Nation worked to get the track back up and running, a feat that required significant manpower, according to Hoskins.

“I think we had major concern initially,” Krissy Bamberg, executive director of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association, told News on 6 Oklahoma. “When you looked at the damage, there was no way you could really fathom that they would have it back so soon.”

“This is the livelihood for our guys,” she added. “Most of our guys are Oklahomans and want to stay in Oklahoma. So, without Will Rogers running this time of year, they have to go to other states like Louisiana and Texas.”

The post Cherokee Casino at Will Rogers Downs Reopens After Tornado Wreckage appeared first on Casino.org.

The Rose Gaming Resort won’t offer traditional casino slot machines or live dealer table games. Instead, the gaming floor will house electronic gaming terminals that calculate winning spins based on previously run horse races.

Northern Virginia residents in Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, and Stafford counties have recently been inundated with television commercials advertising The Rose.

The Rose Gaming Resort defies expectations as Virginia’s newest premier gaming destination. With excitement around every corner and over 50,000 square feet of gaming space, there is more than one way to win at The Rose,” a narrator says during one 15-second spot.

During Churchill’s second-quarter earnings presentation, company officials said The Rose is on track to open next month. An exact September opening date hasn’t yet been confirmed.

Churchill hopes The Rose will poach some gaming dollars from Northern Virginia residents who are currently traveling across the Potomac River to MGM National Harbor in Maryland. The casino is considered MGM’s most profitable domestic gaming operation outside of Las Vegas.

Marketing Blitz

Last fall, Churchill Downs lost its bid to construct a commercial casino in Richmond. The local referendum vote wasn’t a total loss, however, as the state’s decision to allow Petersburg to mull the commercial gaming opportunity moves the possible casino development another 25 miles south of Dumfries where The Rose will operate.

Churchill acquired The Rose development through its $2.5 billion acquisition of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E) and Colonial Downs Group.

Revolutionary Racing, the Chicago entity that bought Colonial Downs, later sold its Virginia business to P2E. Churchill’s takeover of Peninsula Pacific, along with The Rose, delivered the HHR off-track gaming venues that operate under the Rosie’s Gaming Emporium Brand. The HHR venues are located in Collinsville, Dumfries, Emporia, Hampton, Richmond, and Vinton.

The Rose is by far the largest HHR location in the Churchill stable. Along with 1,650 HHR gaming positions, the resort will open with a 102-room hotel, 2,540-space parking garage, eight bars and restaurants, and more than 80 acres of green space.

The Rose was built atop a former landfill just east of Interstate 95.

HHR Explained

HHR devices use the results of previously run horse races to approximate the gaming experience of a slot machine though the games are parimutuel in their functionality. The global gaming industry’s leading manufacturers, including Aristocrat, Light & Wonder, International Game Technology, AGS, Ainsworth, and Everi, produce and distribute HHR cabinets.

“We are on time and on budget to what we told you on the last earnings call as we increase the size of the facility to 1,650 HHR machines. It’s a massive site and it’s exciting to see the exterior and interior pieces come together as we approach completion,” Carstanjen said during the company’s earnings call on July 25.

The post Churchill Downs Aggressively Advertising The Rose Gaming Resort in Northern Virginia appeared first on Casino.org.

Construction on the Grandstand Club and Pavilion is slated to start next month with the enhancements expected to be completed in advance of the 2025 Kentucky Derby. The announcement was made in conjunction with the gaming company’s second-quarter earnings release.

The renovation of the Grandstand Club will transform existing outdoor aluminum bleachers into a combination of 8,300 new comfortable seating varieties,” according to a statement. “Updated seating options will include covered and uncovered stadium-style seats as well as rail boxes along the dirt track’s outer rail that will offer a ‘trackside’ seating experience where guests will be able to closely watch horses break from the Kentucky Derby Starting Gate.”

The first floor of the Grandstand Club will feature bars, betting windows, and permanent concessions.

Churchill Continues Sprucing Up Iconic Track

Churchill Downs has already made investments in its namesake venue with new amenities at the iconic Kentucky track, including a new paddock, boosting attendance and revenue for the first leg of the Triple Crown.

It’s possible the grandstand and pavilion renovations will be EBITDA and revenue drivers for Churchill, particularly during the bustling Derby Week next May.

“The Grandstand Pavilion will create a more upscale social environment by converting the existing second-floor amenity area into a covered outdoor garden environment with new concessions, bars, and wagering windows,” added the gaming company in the press release. “Expansion to the second floor will create additional space for overall guest circulation and add an outdoor balcony for added dining seats. A new stately entrance to the Grandstand Pavilion will unify the surrounding exterior architecture.”

Churchill Downs Q2 Earnings Review

For the April through June period, Churchill Downs notched adjusted EBITDA of $444.8 million on revenue of $890.07 million, beating analysts’ estimates by 9% and 4%, respectively. EBITDA margins checked in at 49.9%.

Based on results/commentary, we think key upside drivers included 1) impressive initial results at Terre Haute, 2) lower racing costs & mis-modeled timing, and 3) ramping contribution from TwinSpires strategic ADW partnerships,” wrote Stifel analyst Jeffrey Stantial in a report out this evening.

Churchill repurchased $13 million worth of its stock during the quarter and has $179.9 million remaining on a previously announced buyback plan. The gaming company holds its quarterly conference call at 9 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday.

The post Churchill Downs Plans Grandstand, Pavilion Renovation at Kentucky Derby Track appeared first on Casino.org.

“I am responsible for any substance found in the horses that I train, and I have paid a very steep price with a?three-year suspension?and the disqualification of Medina Spirit’s performance,” Baffert said in the statement.

I understand and appreciate that Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission took steps to enforce the rules that they believed were necessary to protect the safety and integrity of horse racing and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby.”

Baffert added that he and his family wanted to put the chapter behind them and “get back doing what we love to do without anymore [sic] distraction or negativity.”

Medina Spirit Disqualified

So ends the saga that began soon after Medina Spirit’s unlikely victory at the Derby. It was an episode that saw lawsuits fly and tarnished the name of one of racing’s greatest trainers.

Post-race testing showed the three-year-old colt had 21pg/ml of the anti-inflammatory steroid betamethasone in his system. The horse was disqualified, and the 1.8 million winner’s prize went to the second-place finisher, Mandaloun.

In Kentucky, the substance is classified as a Class C drug permitted for therapeutic use in horses but requires a 14-day withdrawal time.

‘False Narrative’

Baffert sued Churchill Downs in 2022 to try to have the ban lifted but was unsuccessful. In a statement at the time, the racetrack giant accused Baffert of “peddling a false narrative” about the failed drug test.

Prior to that race, Mr. Baffert signed an agreement with Churchill Downs which stated that he was responsible for understanding the rules of racing in Kentucky and that he would abide by them,” the company said at the time. “The results of the tests clearly show that he did not comply, and his ongoing conduct reveals his continued disregard for the rules and regulations that ensure horse and jockey safety, as well as the integrity and fairness of the races conducted at our facilities.”

Six months after the Derby, the controversy deepened when Medina Spirit collapsed and died of a heart attack during a workout at Santa Anita Park. Veterinary officials who examined his body found no evidence of doping, but a definitive cause of death couldn’t be established. ??

The post Bob Baffert ‘Takes Responsibility’ for Medina Spirit Drug Test, Ban Lifted appeared first on Casino.org.

Kentucky-based Churchill Downs acquired the Colonial Downs Racetrack, six Rosie’s Gaming Emporium HHR facilities, and five additional HHR opportunities across the commonwealth through its 2022 acquisition of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E). Churchill filed plans on June 18 to renovate a former furniture and mattress store located in the Staples Mill Shopping Center in Richmond into a business called Henrico Gaming.

The shopping center, located at Staples Mill Rd. and Glenside Dr., is zoned to allow parimutuel wagering, which HHR machines are classified as, but county officials are working to alter the approval process for such gaming by updating zoning rules.

Zoning Ordinance?

The Staples Mill Shopping Center is located within a business district zoned as “B-2.” According to the Henrico County government website, such a business district is intended to provide office space, retail shopping, restaurants, gas stations, and live/work dwellings.

In May, the Henrico County Board of Supervisors initiated proceedings to advance an ordinance that would require a PUP to be obtained for any HHR business within the county regardless of the number of machines. The county supervisors approved the rule change during their June 15 meeting, seven days after Churchill submitted its application for Henrico Gaming.

Supervisor Upset

Following the supervisors’ vote, HHR developments of any number of gaming positions must now underdog a PUP public hearing. However, since its bid was submitted before the ordinance was endorsed by the county supervisors, the Churchill Downs project under county law will be grandfathered from the PUP condition.

Henrico County Supervisor Dan Schmitt, who represents Henrico’s Brookland District where Churchill is planning Henrico Gaming, says the company purposely applied ahead of the zoning change in a move that shows it isn’t committed to being an upstanding community partner. Schmitt said Churchill was trying “to jam this business into the location” before the PUP ordinance was enacted.

These folks of this county weigh in during PUP processes on far less intrusive items, including the hours a store can operate,” Schmitt said during the county supervisors’ meeting earlier this month. “The residents I represent deserve the right to weigh in if there’s going to be a gambling establishment in their neighborhood.”

Schmitt urged Churchill to rescind its application and reapply under the new PUP rules.

“The applicant has the opportunity to show their awareness of what it takes to be a trusted community partner and participate in the public process,” Schmitt declared.

The post Churchill Downs HHR Facility Planned for Virginia’s Henrico County Faces Criticism appeared first on Casino.org.

Mud and debris needed to be removed from the track area and residents living near Rio Ruidoso were forced to evacuate before flood waters reached the location. Local officials also closed some roads.

As a precaution against future floods, excavators were employed to widen and deepen a river channel on the track property.

“Our track crew has done an outstanding job in saving the base of the race track since the flooding began,” casino and racetrack General Manager Rick?Baugh?said in a statement over the weekend.

The town experienced additional flooding today which also came down the river and made the track repairs more difficult. We will continue to work on the track and prepare for racing next weekend,” he added.

“We’re working with federal, state, and local officials to make sure the cleanup of the debris is done properly. We remain confident that we’re going to be able to race this weekend.”

State Commission Meets

The New Mexico Racing Commission met on Tuesday about changes to the racing schedule.

We need to discuss the future of this year’s Rainbow Derby trials with members of the New Mexico Racing Commission and listen to our horsemen that are involved,” Baugh said. “We will keep everyone apprised about a final decision about the Rainbow Derby trials as quickly as possible.”

The Graden1 $800K Rainbow Derby and $482K Rainbow Oaks trials are to be held this coming Saturday and Sunday, according to the El Paso Times.

The Rainbow Derby is the second leg of the Quarter Horse Triple Crown for three-year-old quarter horses, according to the news report. The Rainbow Oaks is for three-year-old fillies.

Finals are scheduled to take place during the racetrack’s Zia Festival running on July 20 and July 21. It’s still possible regular races will take place on Thursday.

Trials for the Ruidoso Futurity took place on Friday and Saturday. Floods forced the last two trials to be canceled.

Ruidoso is located in the Sierra Blanca mountain range.

Deadly Wildfires

Last month, two wildfires in New Mexico led thousands of residents to flee from Ruidoso, and race horses were relocated.

Some 1,000 horses were taken to state fairgrounds in Albuquerque, and nearby training centers.

June’s wildfires also led to the death of one person in New Mexico, according to CNN. At least two people were injured and some 1,400 buildings were heavily damaged, the report added.

The post New Mexico Race Track Damaged by Flooding, Events Rescheduled appeared first on Casino.org.

Sir Steele suffered a severe injury before a race at Penn National Race Course in Granville, Pa. on Aug. 16, 2003, and was ultimately euthanized. That’s after racetrack employees tied the six-year-old gelding’s tail to the starting gate.

Racing officials sometimes clamp a horse’s tailbone onto the rear gate to calm it if they feel it is likely to thrash. But Carpio says she had asked Penn National staff not to employ this tactic earlier in the summer because of Sir Steele’s sensitivity.

Horse Panics

When the horses were being loaded into the gate in the eighth race at Penn National on August 16, Sir Steele’s jockey told the assistant starter three separate times not to tie his tail, according to the lawsuit.

Nevertheless, the order was given to do so, which caused the horse to panic and become stuck under the gate, which resulted in injury, the complaint alleges.

“Fracture was able to be displaced on palpation. Discharge from the stretched skin proximal to the anus. Complete palpation not performed due to severe swelling. Imaging [confirmed] complete, displaced fracture of right zygomatic arch [around eye]; complete, comminuted, displaced vertebra fracture,” the report stated.

‘Unresponsive to Sedation’

The next day, Sir Steele, who had a history of exertional rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), was showing generalized signs of moderate to severe pain that required sedation.

Over the next 12 hours, Sir Steele’s pain “became progressively worse and [he] became unresponsive to sedation,” according to the report. Euthanasia was recommended and carried out on August 19.

The suit names Eric Johnston, Penn National’s director of racing, head starter Lindy Riggs, assistant starter Freddy Diaz, and William Otero, a Penn National employee.

The post Penn National Sued After Horse Death Linked to Tail Tied to Starting Gate appeared first on Casino.org.

The 91-year-old was arrested again Wednesday, three weeks after his initial detention on charges?of rape, indecent assault on a female, sexual assault, and forcible confinement.

The new charges include six counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted rape, and one count of indecent assault on a female, according to court documents. The alleged incidents occurred from 1977 to February this year, per the filings.

Stronach Denies Allegations

The Stronach Group is the biggest thoroughbred racetrack owner in the US. It also has training centers and simulcast operations across the country. These include California’s Santa Anita racetrack and Golden Gate Fields, the latter of which closed earlier this month.

Gulfstream Park in Florida, as well as the Pimlico Racecourse, the Laurel Racecourse, and Rosecroft Raceway, all in Maryland, are also Stronach assets.

Stronach’s lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said his client “denies and will vigorously defend these further untested allegations dating back to 1977.”

“He has spent his lifetime committed to the betterment of the Canadian community and industry,” Greenspan added.

Rags to Riches

Austrian-born Stronach came to Canada in the late 1930s with little to his name. In 1957, he opened a machine shop, which he transformed into a global auto parts business that became Magna International.

Magna is now one of the largest companies in Canada and the biggest auto parts manufacturer in North America.

A keen racing enthusiast and thoroughbred owner, Stronach bought Santa Anita in 1998 for $127 million and launched the Stronach Group in 2011 with Belinda Stronach. He resigned two years later to pursue a political career in his native Austria as an advocate of free-market neoliberalism.

Family Schism

In 2018, Stronach filed a lawsuit against his daughter and other family members alleging corporate mismanagement. It was settled in 2020, with Stronach being awarded a stallion and breeding business.

In 2017, he had an estimated net worth of C$3.06 billion (US$2.2 billion), according to Canadian Business.

The Stronach Group is aware of the serious charges that have been brought against Frank Stronach,” the company said in an official statement Thursday.

“Frank Stronach has not held a formal role or been involved with company operations in any capacity for several years. This matter is now before the courts and will be dealt with in the appropriate forum. The company has nothing further to add.”

The post Stronach Group Founder Frank Stronach Faces Additional Sex Assault Charges appeared first on Casino.org.

The challenge, brought by Oklahoma, Louisiana, West Virginia, and individual racetracks in other states, sought to overturn an opinion from the Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit upholding the federal law’s constitutionality. The challenge argued that Congress gave too much power to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), a private entity created by the HRSA to administer the rules.

“HISA’s uniform standards are having a material, positive impact on the health and well-being of horses,” said Charles Scheeler, HISA’s board chair, in a statement following the ruling, citing a 38% decline in equine fatalities for the first three months of 2024.

After HISA began overseeing racetrack safety on July 1, 2022, the number of horse racing deaths at HISA-controlled tracks decreased slightly, from 1.25 per 1,000 starts in 2022 to 1.23 per 1,000 starts in 2023.

Not all Thoroughbred tracks operate under HISA, however, as racing commissions in several states refuse to comply. They include Texas, Louisiana, and West Virginia. In these and other places, horse racing deaths continue to occur with greater frequency (1.63 per 1,000 starts in 2023) compared to HISA tracks.

Two other cases are pending in federal court, one in the Fifith Circuit and one in the Eighth.

We still could hear any day from the Fifth Circuit on whether HISA remains unconstitutional after the congressional tweak, and the oral argument last October went well for us,” Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, a Kentucky-based lobbying group representing the interests of Thoroughbred racehorse owners, told the Associated Press.

Legislation to dismantle the HISA was also introduced in September to the House of Representatives but has yet to go anywhere.

The post Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenge to Horse Racing Anti-Doping & Safety Law appeared first on Casino.org.

Officials with WarHorse Gaming, a division of Ho-Chunk, Inc., the commercial business arm of the Winnebago Tribe, say the company’s permanent Omaha casino venue is slated to open on August 6.

WarHorse Omaha will operate at 6303 Q Street. Subsequent planned expansion phases include additional gaming floor space, an outdoor gaming patio where smoking will be allowed, and a boutique hotel with 200 guestrooms.

The 2020 statewide ballot referendum Nebraskans passed authorizing the state’s horse racetracks to operate slot machines, table games, and sportsbooks applied the state’s Clean Indoor Act that prohibits indoor tobacco smoking in most public places and businesses to the casino venues.

WarHorse Construction Progress?

Following the successful 2020 vote, the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) partnered with WarHorse Gaming to redevelop its racetracks into casinos. Along with Horsemen’s Park, WarHorse is building a casino at the association’s Lincoln Race Course.

WarHorse Casino Lincoln is a similarly sized project and investment. The Lincoln casino is set to open this fall with a smaller casino with 430 slots, plus sports betting and parimutuel wagering, but unlike the Omaha destination, the Lincoln property will open with a 220-room hotel and an events center. WarHorse Lincoln will additionally have a fine-dining steakhouse.

The NHBPA additionally controls the shuttered Atokad Downs in South Sioux City. The NHBPA and WarHorse Gaming hope to redevelop that track in the coming years into a casino with live racing.

The NHBPA plans to increase the number of live racing dates in the years ahead after construction finishes on the two casinos. The goal is to schedule 15 race days annually at Legacy Downs and five per year at Horsemen’s Park.

Gaming Taking Hold?

WarHorse has operated a temporary gaming facility in Lincoln since Sept. 24, 2022. The venue is inside the Legacy Downs grandstand and offers 400 slot machines and the Winner’s Circle Grill.

WarHorse Omaha opened a temporary sportsbook last November. The business generated GGR of $224K through December. ?

Caesars Entertainment made history in the Cornhusker State last month by opening Nebraska’s first permanent casino. Harrah’s Columbus, NE, Racing & Casino, a $100 million undertaking, opened its doors on May 17 with 400 slots, 11 live dealer table games, and a Caesars Race & Sportsbook. Two adjacent hotels from Marriott will soon welcome overnight guests. ?

The post WarHorse Omaha Announces Opening Date of Permanent Casino in Nebraska appeared first on Casino.org.

During a race, the second-place horse slowed down as it was running at the North Strabane Township, Pa. track, causing the wheels of two sulkies — the carts used in harness racing — to touch and lock up.

Driver Thrown on Track

Mike Wilder, one of the sulkie drivers, was thrown onto the track as a result of the collision, Pennsylvania TV station KDKA reported. Wilder lost consciousness from the impact and was flown to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

Details on his injuries weren’t revealed in news reports and he was released from the hospital on Monday.

“He is at home, resting and recovering,” Wilder’s wife, Heather, told KDKA. “We are taking it one day at a time and appreciate everyone’s concern and well wishes. We are blessed to work together with these amazing animals that we consider family.”

Horse Euthanized

A racehorse involved in the incident also suffered serious injuries and was euthanized as a result, according to KDKA. No other horses were injured.

Two other drivers involved in the accident were uninjured in the crash. They were identified as Hunter Myers and Dave Palone, according to KDKA. The two drivers were able to continue racing on Saturday.

A horse trainer at the harness track, Chuck Mull, called the accident “a very heartbreaking thing.”

Every horseman feels for each other when that has to happen. Especially, when it has to happen on a horse track like that. We’re all in this together, you know, you’re working with friends, [and] family,” Mull told KDKA.

The race track measures a five-eighths of a mile oval. Harness races are run over a mile so races begin on a backstretch and go through three turns, according to online information.

More than three years later, Penn added its Hollywood identity to the gaming property. The name was changed from The Meadows Racetrack and Casino to Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

The racetrack opened in 1963. The casino opened in 2007.

The complex is located some 25 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, Pa.

The post Pennsylvania Harness Driver Injured, Race Horse Put Down appeared first on Casino.org.

Ontario’s Peel regional police said in a statement the 91-year-old horse racing and auto-parts magnate was detained Friday and charged with rape, indecent assault on a female, sexual assault, and forcible confinement.

The charges relate to incidents that are alleged to have occurred from the 1980s to as recently as 2023, police said. Constable Tyler Bell told reporters that there was more than one alleged victim but declined to say exactly how many.

Obviously, this is a high-profile case,” Bell said. “Our special Victims Unit is bound to protect the victims and in doing so – that’s why we’re being vague.”

Stronach’s lawyer said in a statement that his client “categorically denies the allegations of impropriety which have been brought against him.”

Racing Empire

Stronach is the founder and former chairman of the Stronach Group, which owns thoroughbred racetracks, training centers, and simulcast operations across the US.

Stronach has had little to do with the management of the Stronach Group in recent years. His daughter, Belinda Stronach, is the current chairman, CEO, and president of the company, which now trades as 1/ST.

Worth Billions

Austrian-born Stronach built up a machine shop he founded in 1957 into a global auto parts business, Magna International, which once made a takeover bid for Chrysler, as well as for Opel, the European arm of General Motors. Today, Magna is one of the largest companies in Canada and the biggest auto parts manufacturer in North America.

In 2017, Stronach had an estimated net worth of C$3.06 billion (US$2.2 billion), according to Canadian Business.

Stronach has also dabbled in Austrian politics as an advocate of unfettered free-market liberalism.

Both Magna and the Stronach Group have declined to comment on the charges.

Released on Bail

Meanwhile, police are appealing to members of the public to come forward if they have any relevant information.

Stronach has been released on bail and will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.

His lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said Stronach looked “forward to the opportunity to fully respond to the charges and to maintain his legacy, both as a philanthropist and as an icon of the Canadian business community.”

The post Stronach Group Founder Frank Stronach Charged with Sexual Assault appeared first on Casino.org.

Meanwhile, outside, Berkeley-based animal rights group Direct Action will be holding a mock funeral for the estimated 2,000 horses they claim have died at the track since it opened. The vigil will feature a symbolic coffin and flowers, Piedmont Exedra reports.

The group has protested against horse deaths at the track for several years, and in 2022 was sued by owner, the Stronach Group, after demonstrators disrupted races by scaling a perimeter fence and lying down on the track.

Glory Years

Golden Gate Fields was built on the site of a former dynamite and nitroglycerine plant that blew up twice in the late 19th century. It first opened its doors in 1941, eight years after California legalized betting on horses as a way to stimulate the economy after the Great Depression.

When the US entered the war, the track was repurposed by the US Navy as an equipment depot, with races resuming in 1945.

The legendary closer Silky Sullivan was buried infield. Silky’s body will be interred and reburied in Kentucky, the LA Times reports.

In 1974, the racetrack was the first in Northern California to host a $2 million day. How times have changed.

Racing Goes South

California’s racing industry is not subsidized by revenues from other forms of gambling, such as casinos, as is the case in several other states. As such, the sport has suffered from dwindling prize pools and popularity for decades.

Golden Gate’s owner, the Stronach Group, wants to consolidate racing to its two racetracks in Southern California, Santa Anita and San Luis Rey.

It hopes that a bill wending its way through the state legislature will allow it to divert simulcast money from Northern California to Southern California in the event there is no racing in the North.

Golden Gate was originally earmarked for closure at the end of last year. But Stronach consented to keep it open until June if stakeholders agreed not to oppose the simulcast legislation.

Stronach has been criticized by the LA Times for initially failing to tell stakeholders of its plans to close Golden Gate.

The post Golden Gate Fields Runs Its Last Race Sunday appeared first on Casino.org.

In a recent note to clients, Stifel analyst Jeffrey Stantial proclaimed Churchill Downs to be a catalyst-rich story with deleveraging among those sparks. He reiterated a “buy” rating on the shares with a $153 price target, which implies upside of 13.7% from the June 7 close. The operator is coming off a record-setting handle for the Kentucky Derby and Derby Week last month, which should provide ballast to second-quarter results.

Management highlighted the simultaneously announced extended broadcast rights agreement with NBC Sports, while growth in viewership (+13% Y/Y) and development projects help support CHDN’s targeted sponsorship strategy,” observed Stantial. Guest feedback on the debuted ~$200 million Paddock project has been overwhelming positive, while management reiterated it has an opportunity to optimize and yield up the space in 2025+.”

Churchill’s TwinSpires unit was a Derby beneficiary as the online betting entity garnered a handle of $92.1 on “the run for the roses,” easily besting the prior record of $75.5 million set last year.

Kentucky, Virginia Central to Churchill Downs Stock Thesis

While data indicate that Churchill’s newest historical horse racing (HHR) facility — the $90 million Derby City Gaming venue in the operator’s home city of Louisville – is off to a slow start, Kentucky and Virginia remain pivotal to the stock’s broader thesis.

“We note the Virginia governor recently vetoed a bill re-legalizing skill games, though expressing openness to negotiation with legislators – with higher tax rate and geographic exclusion zones around casino/HHR facilities likely the key sticking points,” added Stantial. “The potential casino project in Petersburg also remains a key focus for investors, with notable public opposition from unions and competitors.”

Even with the slow start by Derby City, Churchill management signaled to Stantial that overall same-store sales trends at its Kentucky gaming venues remain sturdy.

Exacta Deal Paying Dividends

Churchill shares could also benefit from the operator’s savvy deal-making, including the December 2022 $250 million deal for Exacta Systems, a Florida-based provider of HHR systems and gaming machines.

Exacta bolstered Churchill’s HHR exposure in its home state and Virginia as well as New Hampshire, which has been accretive to growth in its own right.

“Management reiterated plans to convert ~10% of KY floors to Exacta, while our back-of-envelope analysis suggests $15M+ of incremental annualized cost savings in VA alone reflecting healthy same-store growth and the addition of ‘The Rose’ (but before deployment of remaining HRM capacity),” concluded Stantial. “While still early, management sees opportunity to participate in international HHR growth as well as through Exacta.”

The post Churchill Downs Stock Has Tailwinds, Says Analyst appeared first on Casino.org.

An estimated five horses were taken to Oklahoma State University for treatment by veterinarians, according to initial reports.

Colleen Davidson, who has a stable at Will Rogers Downs, was in a trailer when the tornado struck.

“When I woke up, it was too late,” she told Horse Racing Nation. “The glass and stuff was smashing through my house and I couldn’t get out and I just went in there and said, ‘I hope the good Lord’s looking out for me because this ain’t going to be good.’ And luckily it lifted my trailer up and swung it side to side but it did not flip it.”

She and her husband owned 11 horses at the track. One of them was euthanized on Sunday after it suffered a broken neck, the report said.

Aome 100 additional horses at the Claremore, Okla. property were relocated to Fair Meadows in Tulsa on Sunday.

Could Have Been Worse

Danielle Barber, executive director of the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma, told Horse Racing Nation she was “very thankful. It could’ve been a lot worse.”

“We have about 14 barns, 10 of them experienced significant damage. The others also experienced some damage, but not as significant,” Travis Noland, director of communications for Cherokee Nation Entertainment, which owns the track, told Oklahoma TV station KTUL. “The grandstand did experience some significant damage.”

Barn roofs were pulled off by the winds, trailers were overturned, and various property was spread over the grounds, according to BloodHorse.

When the tornado struck, there were 200 or more horses at the racetrack. It can fit some 640 animals.

Casino Lost Power

The exterior of the casino building was damaged by the heavy winds, according to KTUL. The electricity went off due to the storm, and water wasn’t working.

There’s been no word when power will be restored to the casino as of early this week. The complex’s RV park and RVs there also were damaged by Saturday’s storm.

It was a pretty busy night at the casino and the RV park,” Noland said. “There were no severe injuries reported. We were able to use our severe weather protocols — which was move people to shelter before the storm hit — the majority of them were moved to shelter. We really focused on life and safety of the guests.”

“It’s been an emotional day, yesterday, for a lot of these campers that were going through their belongings and stuff,” Noland was quoted by KTUL on Sunday. “But one of the most important things is no severe injuries were reported. It’s really just been an unfortunate situation for those guests.”

A fundraising effort was launched to assist the horses. Numerous volunteers came out to assist all who needed help, too.

The post Oklahoma Tornado Kills Three Horses, Injures Others at Will Rogers Downs: Report appeared first on Casino.org.

Derby City Gaming Downtown is a casino-like venue offering HHR gaming machines. The slot-like terminals are based on previously run horse races and are classified as parimutuel wagering.

Churchill’s downtown venue hasn’t seen the robust crowds the company anticipated in spending $90 million to renovate a former US Bank location on the corner of 140 S. 4th St. in Louisville. Revenue reports from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission reveal that the downtown HHR destination’s terminals are generating only about a quarter of the monthly gross gaming revenue (GGR) being won at Derby City Gaming’s original and only other location along Poplar Level Rd. near the Louisville Airport.

Slow Start, Company Explanation?

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission reports that the 500 HHR positions at Derby City Downtown each averaged a monthly win of approximately $2,520 during January, February, and March, the most recently reported filings. By comparison, Derby City near the airport averaged about $11,600 per HHR terminal during the same period.

Derby City Downtown has nearly 500 HHR machines while the original Derby City has over 1,300 gaming seats.

When Churchill opened the downtown venue, company leaders touted Derby City as an economic revitalizer for the city center, with the goal being to “contribute to our community.” Several months in, the executives are saying the slow start wasn’t entirely unexpected and additional time is needed for a clearer picture of how the property will benefit Louisville.

We thought it would start relatively modestly because a big component of its business is going to be driven by tourism and downtown traffic,” Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen said on the company’s earnings call in April. “Opening in December at the height of winter in Louisville is not the ideal time to open. So, what we’re seeing is pretty consistent ramping.”

Carstanjen said the firm will have a better sense of what to expect long-term from the Derby City Downtown operation after realizing revenues from the spring and summer months.

HHR Innovation

To the casual player, HHR machines function just like a casino slot. But the games work vastly differently behind the colorful animations displayed to the player.

HHR devices choose a random previously run horse race and translate the race’s odds into a visual animation. Gamblers typically opt for the quick bet that comes with the best odds, which behind the scenes is a parimutuel wager on the race’s favorite when it took place. If the horse won, the HHR machine bet will win, too.

Kentucky receives 1.5% of the overall money bet, or handle, on HHR machines.

The post Churchill Downs’ Derby City Gaming in Downtown Louisville Slow Out of the Gate appeared first on Casino.org.

Harrah’s Columbus, NE, Racing & Casino, the $100 million gaming and horse racetrack destination, opened its doors on Friday morning, May 17. The casino space spans 17,000 square feet and includes 400 slot machines, 11 live dealer table games, and a Caesars Race & Sportsbook with a 163-inch video wall and 17 flatscreen televisions.

Harrah’s is an iconic brand that our guests have come to know and love across the country. We’re so happy to be here with our partners and friends as we celebrate what is sure to be a bright future in Nebraska,” said Todd Connelly, Caesars Entertainment’s regional president.

Caesars is partnered with Columbus Exposition, which was afforded a casino permit through a 2020 statewide ballot referendum that authorized slots, table games, and sports betting at licensed horse racetracks. Caesars and Columbus Exposition opted to build a new racetrack, a condition of the gaming concession being that it’s complemented by live racing, northwest of the downtown area.

Columbus Exposition is a not-for-profit entity controlled by Platte County. Caesars and Columbus Exposition will share in the revenue generated at Harrah’s.

Harrah’s is one of five casinos under development in the Cornhusker State. Racetrack casinos are also in the works in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, and Ogallala. Racetracks in Hastings Park and South Sioux City are also expected to commence casino projects in the coming years.

New Facility, Casino

Harrah’s Columbus moved Columbus Exposition’s racing license from Platte County Agricultural Park, commonly called Ag Park, about four air miles northwest along US Route 81/Howard Blvd. The casino replaced the site of the former Wishbones Events Center.

Harrah’s has honored the site’s past by opening a sports bar called Wishbones. The lounge is one of two watering holes along with Brew Brothers, which additionally offers a full menu.

Harrah’s Nebraska will soon open an adjacent Fairfield Inn and Townplace Suites. Both hotels will be operated by Marriott and will be connected to the casino and racing facility.

The Harrah’s casino is open daily from 8 a.m. until 3 a.m. With its Nebraska opening, Caesars Entertainment now owns and/or operates 50 casinos in the US.

Jackpot Comes Quick

The first major win didn’t take long at Harrah’s Columbus. The casino says a lucky guest hit a $1,876 jackpot on a Power Push slot machine at 10:14 a.m. Power Push is a title from Incredible Technologies, an Illinois-based slot machine manufacturer.

The big win came less than a half-hour after Harrah’s welcomed its first guests.

Harrah’s operated a temporary casino inside the Ag Park grandstand from June 2023 until recently shuttering the facility in anticipation of opening the permanent property. The provisional casino won about $7.4 million from players during its roughly six-month run last year.

The post Harrah’s Columbus Opens in Nebraska, Slots Player Hits Jackpot appeared first on Casino.org.

On Wednesday, the Maryland Board of Public Works voted to approve the plan, which will involve a complete rebuild of the track.

The state will run the track as a nonprofit while paying Stronach millions for the right to use the Preakness Stakes name and to run the famous race.

Consolidating Racing

Last week, Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore signed a bill approving $400 million in state bonds to pay for the renovations.

The Preakness will still run at Pimlico this coming Saturday (May 18) and next year, but it will move to Laurel Park in 2026 while the track is rebuilt. It will return to the new-look Pimlico – it is hoped – in 2027.

Laurel Park, which is also owned by the Stronach Group, will be permanently closed after 110 years of racing once the renovations to Pimlico are complete, per the agreement.

The Preakness is culturally important to Marylanders. First run in 1873 – beating the Kentucky Derby by two years – it is second only to the Derby for attendance. Maryland law prohibits the Preakness from leaving the state.

“With this agreement, we are making Pimlico the year-round home of thoroughbred racing in the state of Maryland,” Gov. Moore said Wednesday. “By consolidating thoroughbred racing at one track, Pimlico will become a reliable hub of economic activity, rather than only being in the spotlight for a few days of the year.”

New-Look Pimlico

The rebuild will create a smaller 5,000-seat grandstand, which will double as an event space and be open to the local community all year round, according to local NBC affiliate WBAL-TV. There will be a new sportsbook, a hotel with views of the track, and a 2,000-space parking garage.

Any operating losses will be covered by a fund derived from lottery proceeds. Meanwhile, 10% of track profits will go to local Park Heights community development projects.

“This truly is an historic moment,” said Alan Foreman, president and CEO of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, told WBAL-TV. “[With] the not-for-profit model, we are consolidating, reducing expenses, reimagining the future.”

The post Maryland to Buy Historic Pimlico Race Course for $1 appeared first on Casino.org.

Last month, the Columbus, Minn.-based racino sued the Grand Casino Hinckley, Grand Casino Mille Lacs, and Treasure Island Resort. Running Aces claims they conduct class III card games that aren’t covered by their tribal-state gaming compacts, such as Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’Em.

The Grand Casinos are owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Treasure Island belongs to the Prairie Island Indian Community.

In an amended complaint filed Tuesday, Running Aces added Mystic Lake and Little Six Casinos, which are owned by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC).

‘IGRA Violated’

The racino accuses all five casinos of violating the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), as well as state laws, by operating not only class III card games but also “video games of chance,” such as slots.

The tribes are permitted by the state to offer these games under the terms of their compacts. Minnesota was the first state to sign compacts with its federally recognized tribes after the enactment of IGRA in 1988.

Many believe lawmakers blundered by failing to negotiate revenue-sharing provisions. The state isn’t permitted to renegotiate any of these compacts without the tribes’ approval.

The Minnesota criminal code “specifically prohibits and makes illegal the playing of electronic video games of chance for any person,” as the lawsuit notes.

This is something the tribes “know only too well,” per the lawsuit. When Running Aces applied to the Minnesota Racing Commission to “modestly expand its ‘dealer assist’ table games,” the SMSC objected on the grounds that “video games of chance are not permitted in Minnesota,” the suit states.

‘No Merit’

“All that we have ever sought was to be treated fairly, compete on a level playing field, take advantage of improvements within the pari-mutuel environment, and operate without fear of being eliminated,” Running Aces president and CEO Taro Ito said in a statement to local CBS affiliate KSTP-TV. “It is our sincere desire to have our day in court and let the facts determine the outcome.”

The SMSC dismissed the Running Aces lawsuit as having “no merit,” labeling it a “desperate stunt to attack the good reputation of tribes and tribal gaming” in a statement to FOX 9.

All gaming conducted at Mystic Lake and Little Six Casinos complies with tribal law, federal law, and the gaming compact that was executed in 1989,” read the statement.

The SMSC claims Running Aces is seeking to “mislead the public and influence the final stages of the Minnesota Legislature’s 2024 session,” to prevent the passage of a bill that would hand a sports betting monopoly to the tribes.

The post Minnesota’s Running Aces Racino Adds More Casinos to RICO Suit appeared first on Casino.org.

Monmouth Park was home to the first legal wager in New Jersey when, on June 14, 2018, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) put $20 on the NHL New Jersey Devils to win the 2019 Stanley Cup (they did not).

After Caesars Entertainment acquired William Hill, Monmouth Park rebranded its sportsbook to Caesars in early 2022. The racetrack’s sportsbook has remained in a renovated section of the historic grandstand but next year, a larger standalone book will complement the home of the Haskell.

Caesars Sportsbook Details

Monmouth Park is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) and operated by Dennis Drazin’s Darby Development, LLC. Drazin and Caesars officials commenced construction of the standalone Caesars Sportsbook on Tuesday, which will be located off the southern end of the Monmouth Park grandstand.

The forthcoming sportsbook, set to open next year, will feature indoor and outdoor seating, a staffed betting window, and 25 self-service wagering kiosks. The facility will have an abundance of flatscreen televisions and digital displays to provide unobstructed views of any game a guest comes to watch.

We’re extremely excited to begin this next chapter with the upcoming opening of the new Caesars Sportsbook at Monmouth Park,” said Drazin. “As we start our sixth year of sports betting, we continue to see the growth and expansion we knew would eventually happen. This will be a magnificent addition to the Monmouth Park facility as our partnership with Caesars continues to evolve.”

In addition to its retail sportsbook, Monmouth Park’s partnership with Caesars extends online. Bettors can sign up through the Monmouth Park website to establish an online sports wagering account with Caesars Sportsbook.?

Monmouth’s Not So Mammoth Revenue

Drazin rallied state officials to fight for sports betting before the 2018 SCOTUS decision. The longtime horseman said such gambling was critical to maintaining the state’s equine industry.

Drazin invested in a William Hill lounge long before he was allowed to take bets. The room served as a quasi-sports bar until the 2018 verdict.

Along with Caesars Sportsbook, Monmouth Park lends its brick-and-mortar online sports betting privileges to BetRivers. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement began breaking down sports betting revenue by operator this year, though? Caesars presumably accounted for the bulk of the track’s $21 million win last year.

The Meadowlands’ sports betting partners — FanDuel, Fanatics, and SuperBook — won more than $483.5 million from bettors in 2023. Freehold Raceway’s sports betting partners, ESPN Bet and betPARX, won nearly $30.3 million.

The post Monmouth Park Breaks Ground on Trackside Caesars Sportsbook appeared first on Casino.org.

That was true of the Kentucky Derby Day program and the entire slate of Derby Week offerings. Mystik Dan, an 18-1 shot, claimed the 150^th running of the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Wagering from all sources on the Kentucky Derby Day program set a new record of $320.5 million, beating last year’s record of $288.7 million. All-sources wagering on the Kentucky Derby race was a new record of $210.7 million, beating the previous record of $188.7 million set in 2023. All-sources handle for Derby Week rose to a new record of $446.6 million, beating last year’s record of $412.0 million,” according to a statement issued by Louisville-based Churchill Downs.

The Derby arrived at just the right time for Churchill Downs investors as the stock entered Monday in the midst of a run that’s seen it surge 12.3% over the past month, helped by a strong first-quarter earnings report delivered in late April.

TwinSpires Contributes to Derby Upside for Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs also noted that this year’s Kentucky Derby brought new records for the operator’s TwinSpires unit.

TwinSpires, which was the subject of takeover speculation several years ago, played a pivotal role in helping the parent company realize record Derby Week earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of $26 million to $28 million. That forecast was highlighted in the press release by Churchill CEO Bill Carstanjen. Separately, it appears as though new amenities at the iconic Kentucky track, including a new paddock, paid dividends for the operator.

“1) enthusiasm, and hence incremental pricing power, around the 150th running, 2) the debut of the transformational $200M Paddock Project, and 3) residual ticket yield left to capture following the debut of the First Turn Experience last year. Regarding the Paddock Project, our checks suggest solid customer feedback on the new & unique viewing product,” wrote Stifel analyst Jeffrey Stantial in a note to clients.

Other Growth Outlets for Churchill Downs

While the Kentucky Derby is one of the most beloved events on the US sports calendar, it’s long attracted horses owned by foreign entities, but the international ties don’t end there. Though Japan is still a small part of overall Derby betting, it’s growing, and with Japanese horses Forever Young and T O Password finishing third and fifth, respectively, in the Derby, Churchill’s Europe & Japan “Road to Derby” initiative appears to be paying off.

We believe two top five positions for Japanese starters should help further cultivate interest abroad, helping CHDN unlock a sizable wagering total addressable market and attract incremental wealthy international visitation,” added Statntial.

Stantial also highlighted historical racing machine (HRM) venues in Kentucky and Virginia as well as a new regional casino in Terre Haute, Ind. as potential catalysts for the stock going forward.

The post Churchill Downs Says Kentucky Derby Betting Toppled Records appeared first on Casino.org.

In June 2022, Mitchell Kerr was sentenced to seven months’ home detention for selling the fictitious animal for NZ$40,000 (US$25K). That was in addition to other industry-related frauds.

A successful trainer during his three-year career, with 87 wins for around $900K in stake money, Kerr was banned for life from the industry for his transgressions.

Books Cooked

On Wednesday, Kerr pleaded guilty to several charges related to violating bankruptcy laws at the Christchurch District Court and was sentenced to five months home detention.

One month before he was banned from racing, Kerr filed for bankruptcy, owing creditors $270K.

Just before that, he gambled more than $2 million on horse and dog racing, according to The Press, losing almost $1 million. That’s a crime under New Zealand’s Insolvency Act.

Kerr also violated several other provisions in the act. These included declaring an annual income of $40K when analysis of his bank accounts revealed it was closer to $228K, according to court filings. He also claimed he had opened just one bank account in the previous five years, when in fact he had opened six, prosecutors said.

Furthermore, he was found to have had continued involvement in the management of his company, Mitch Kerr Racing, despite being banned from doing so under bankruptcy regulations.

Buyer’s Remorse

Kerr sold the phantom horse, an unraced three-year-old standardbred, to his victim in September 2019.

Kerr continued to invoice his victim for training, fees, and insurance totaling $26K after the fraudulent sale.

“I am a different person now and I just want to put my head down and carry on with my life,” Kerr claimed in court Wednesday. “I work and I contribute to my community every day.”

The post Racing Trainer Who Sold Nonexistent Horse Gambled $2M Before Bankruptcy appeared first on Casino.org.

The operator of the famed Kentucky racetrack of the same name said it earned $1.08 a share on revenue of $590.9 million in the first three months of the year. Analysts expected earnings of 76 cents on sales of $564 million. Churchill’s Kentucky historical horse racing segment drove a topline increase in that unit of $33.1 million to $248.9 million. Stifel analyst Jeffrey Stantial highlighted strength at the operator’s Virginia properties, including historical racing machine (HRM) venues.

Compositionally, we argue results evidence our select list thesis, in particular highlighting 1) meaningful sequential acceleration for CHDN’s VA HRM properties (mid-December skill game ban; improving HRM product), and 2) resilient operating trends at Rivers,” wrote the analyst.

Stantial has a “buy” rating and $150 price target on Churchill — forecasts that are under review pending the company’s conference call with analysts on Thursday morning.

Live, Historical Racing, TwinSpires Boost Churchill Q1 Results

Churchill Downs’ strong first-quarter results were supported by encouraging outcomes from the operator’s historical and live horse racing segments, as well as from the TwinSpires online betting unit.

Those gains come ahead of the Kentucky Derby, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 4. The 150^th edition of the crown jewel in horse racing’s triple crown could be another record-setter for Churchill this year as the operator has made significant investments, including a new paddock and more seating, at its eponymous Kentucky track to expand capacity and lure more affluent bettors.

Stantial pointed out that HRM properties in Virginia showed the most year-over-year growth, underscoring benefits for Churchill Downs, which is the largest gaming operator in that state.

Speaking of Virginia …

Be it by way of HRM venues or traditional gaming properties, Virginia figures prominently in the long-term Churchill Downs investment thesis.

Monthly data reported by VRC shows meaningful sequential improvement in Y/Y growth across most of CHDN’s VA assets, likely reflecting a combination of 1) annualization of new supply headwinds, 2) mid-December implementation of a ban on competitive skill games, 3) improving HRM product & layout at CHDN facilities, and 4) broader ramp at relatively new properties,” noted Stantial.

The analyst also observed that Churchill’s recently opened casino hotel in Terre Haute, Ind. is off to a strong start, and that venue is likely to be discussed in greater detail on the conference call.

The post Churchill Downs Posts Record Q1 Revenue, Analyst Bullish on Virginia Properties appeared first on Casino.org.

On Friday, state gaming regulators approved Harrah’s plan to open its permanent casino on May 13. Officially Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino, the gaming venue comes from Caesars Entertainment.

Harrah’s Columbus will also feature a Caesars Sportsbook, a craft beer spot called Brew Brothers, and a sports bar called Wishbones. A race book with pari-mutuel wagering is also opening, though live racing won’t begin until August. A condition of each gaming license issued by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission is that the casino is on the same property as where live horse races are conducted.

An adjacent Marriott hotel is also being finished and will open around the casino’s commencement.

First to Market

Nebraskans passed a ballot referendum during the 2020 election that amended the state constitution to permit Las Vegas-style casino gambling at licensed horse racetracks. Platte County officials said Caesars presented the best development, which resulted in the firm being picked to build and operate the county’s casino.

Harrah’s Columbus will become the state’s first permanent casino to open.

This is a big deal,” Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission Chair Dennis Lee said on Friday.

The casino replaced a former events center called Wishbones, hence the name of the forthcoming sports bar.

“It was a venue for years for entertainment,” Columbus Mayor James Bulkey told the Omaha World-Herald. “People recognize that name.”

Caesars officials said the grand opening plans aren’t yet solidified. While May 13 is the target date, there could be some flexibility in the exact opening.

Caesars remains on a hiring spree. The casino’s website has many job vacancies posted, with available positions including sportsbook staff, waiters, internal auditors, bartenders, slot techs, slot attendants, hosts, cashier cage workers, security officers, and table game dealers.

Casino Scaled Back

When Caesars announced the original blueprint for the permanent Harrah’s Columbus, the company said the casino floor would span 28,000 square feet, nearly 40% larger than the finished development. The casino announced in March 2023 was also to have slightly more gaming positions with 500 slots and 14 table games.

Harrah’s Columbus is one of four permanent casinos being built.

Iowa-based Elite Casino Resorts is relocating Fonner Park’s racing license to Ogallala for a venue called the Grand Island Casino Resort.

A racetrack casino plan for Hastings Park was scrapped last year. The state’s sixth and only other possible casino location — Atokad Downs in South Sioux City — could be later developed by WarHorse once it completes its two other projects.

The post Harrah’s Columbus Sets Opening Target, First Permanent Casino in Nebraska appeared first on Casino.org.

It’s still unclear exactly why Boyd Fenton, 32, of Athens, Pa., deliberately started the barn fire, which also injured a trainer who tried to rescue the animals. However, prosecutors said Fenton took drugs before the incident on November 9, 2023 and “believed people were chasing him.” The defendant has no known connection to the track.

Witnesses reported terrified horses kicking and screaming as the flames spread, according to a New York Times report. Not one of the horses, which competed in harness races at the racino complex, survived the fire.

Psychological Toll

Fenton was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with third-degree arson, third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief, and second-degree assault.

He was also convicted Friday of 30 counts of interference with injuries to certain domestic animals, and 30 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals.

Also packing the courthouse were numerous racing industry stakeholders, including many who lost horses in the fire. Some of the horse owners gave testimony. One, Mindy Findling Repko, had five horses that died in the blaze.

She spoke about the psychological toll the crime had taken on her. She now has panic attacks when she enters her barn back home in Indiana, she said, as reported by 18 News. When it first happened, she thought she was having a heart attack. Now, her husband’s words telling her that her horses were dead play over and over again in her head, she added.

‘You Murdered Our Kids’

Repko said that the horses had filled a huge gap in the couples’ life because they had never had children.

“That’s what you did,” she said, looking directly at Fenton. “You murdered our kids.”

Fenton was given an opportunity to speak after Repko’s testimony but chose to remain silent.

The defendant has a lengthy rap sheet in Pennsylvania, including driving under the influence of a controlled substance, criminal trespassing, criminal mischief resulting in property damage, and possessing a small amount of marijuana.

The post Tioga Downs Arsonist, Horse Killer Sentenced to Up to 15 Years Prison appeared first on Casino.org.

Running Aces harness track in Columbus argues in the suit that the casinos are in violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), as well as state laws. That’s because they are conducting class III card games that are not covered by their tribal-state gaming compacts, such as Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’Em, the racetrack argues.

The Grand Casinos are operated by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Treasure Island by the Prairie Island Indian Community.

‘Unauthorized Games’

In general, Minnesota criminal law prohibits card gaming except blackjack unless it takes place at a card room attached to a licensed parimutuel racetrack, according to the lawsuit.

However, as the lawsuit also notes, Treasure Island’s compact was amended six months ago to include other casino card games. Nevertheless, the casino committed infractions by offering unauthorized games prior to that amendment, the lawsuit contends.

By offering class III card games other than blackjack, defendants’ casinos have been able to attract many patrons who would otherwise have played card games at Running Aces, thereby depriving Running Aces of substantial revenue and profits—both from lost card gaming and from lost accompanying spending on food, lodging, and live entertainment,” claims the lawsuit.

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act is a 1970 federal law that targets organized criminal activity and racketeering. But it can also be used in civil suits where an organization’s actions result in unfair competitive advantages.

Tit for Tat

The lawsuit is the latest chapter in the ongoing spat between tribal operators and the horse racing industry in Minnesota. The racetracks bitterly oppose a bill currently wending its way through the legislature that proposes legalizing sports betting for the tribes only, although the tracks would receive stipends from the new industry.

The tracks argue the stipends are insufficient to compensate for the damage to their businesses that would arise from tribal sports betting, which they claim poses an existential threat to the racing industry.

Running Aces also complains in its lawsuit that the tribes have “vigorously tried to block Running Aces’ efforts to lawfully expand its gaming operations.” The Mille Lacs recently wrote to the Minnesota Racing Commission (MRC) opposing Running Aces’ request to “modestly expand its ‘dealer assist’ table games,” according to the complaint.

The tribes are yet to respond to the suit.

The post Minnesota Racetrack Calls Out Tribal Casinos’ ‘Illegal Games’ in RICO Suit appeared first on Casino.org.

Christopher “Christy” Kinahan, aka “the Dapper Don,” is the founder of the Kinahan Cartel and one of the most wanted men in the world.

But in one of hundreds of thoughtful reviews posted on Google by Kinahan between 2019 and 2023 under the alias “Christopher Vincent,” he admits he stormed out of the Mitts and Trays restaurant in Blue Water, Dubai, before the food was delivered because of the lengthy wait.

“[This] was not so bad for adults, but when you have children with you it can be a hassle,” he ruminated.

Bloody Feud

Irish courts describe the Kinahan family as a “murderous organization” involved in the trafficking of drugs and firearms internationally.

In 2022, the US State Department announced a $15 million reward for information leading to the capture of high-level Kinahan members.

The Kinahans disappeared to Dubai in 2016 following a bloody feud with rival Dublin criminal organization, the Hutch Gang.

Earlier that year a group of Hutch members armed with AK-47s stormed Dublin’s Regency Hotel dressed as police officers during a boxing weigh-in organized by Daniel Kinahan. The intention was to take out Daniel Kinahan and his top lieutenants.

The main targets escaped, but two Kinahan associates died in the gunfire. Twelve people were murdered by members of the Kinahan Cartel in retribution.

Everyone’s a Critic

Kinahan Sr.’s prolific Google reviews show that he is an enthusiastic globetrotter, despite his legal predicament. He has posted restaurant and hotel reviews from Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Hungary, Belgium, Turkey, Egypt, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Hong Kong, according to The Irish Times.

In fact, his Google profile has earned more than 10K points, obtaining a “level 7” guide rating.

In his reviews, Kinahan comes across as an inpatient and somewhat fussy businessman. One review is particularly interesting in the context of his status as a transnational organized crime boss.

Of another Dubai restaurant, he writes, “I did explain that I did not like to be called ‘boss’ and please could you call me ‘Chris, Mr Vincent, or Sir,’”

“The waitress tittered,” he added. “I thought nothing more of it until we were paying the bill … and were about to leave when the same waitress made a point of saying ‘thanks boss!’”

Despite the hiccup, he gave the restaurant four stars.

The post Fugitive Irish Mafia Don Leaves String of Thoughtful Google Restaurant Reviews appeared first on Casino.org.

In January, the city’s government announced it was terminating its contract with the MJC 18 years early. According to a 24-year contract signed in 2018, the MJC pledged to invest millions into improving infrastructure and expanding offerings.

That never happened because horse racing in the former Portuguese colony never recovered after the pandemic. After the MJC accumulated more than $311 million in operating losses last year, its parent company, the Macau Horse Racing Company (MHRC), asked the government to free it from the contract.

Citing the “impossibility of aligning horse racing activities with the current developmental needs of society,” and taking into consideration “that these activities have progressively lost their appeal to local residents and tourists in recent years, the government, after thorough research, decided to accept the application from the Macau Horse Race Company,” Secretary for Administration and Justice Cheong Weng Chon told reporters in January.

Under the termination agreement, the MHRC will transport the owners’ horses to other locations by March 31, 2025, and provide severance pay to the company’s employees. Despite its diminishing popularity in Macau, the MJC remained one of Macau’s biggest private employers with around 800 full-time and 300 part-time workers.

The land presently occupied by the MJC, which includes the Taipa Racecourse, will be returned to the government, which has no plans to build another racetrack. Lawmakers have previously raised the possibility that the track could be transformed into a stadium for international sports events.

In 1991, the MJC was acquired by the MHRC, a consortium led by late gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, who held the casino monopoly in Macau until 2002.

Horse racing remains popular in neighboring Hong Kong.

The post Macau Says ‘Whoa’ to Horse Racing, Holds Last Races appeared first on Casino.org.

On Friday, the CHRB went ahead and approved the dates anyway.

It was a “stunning rebuke” to Santa Anita’s owner, the Stronach Group, according to the Los Angeles Times, which first reported on the story.

North vs. South

In the letter dated March 19, Craig Fravel, executive vice-chairman of 1/ST Racing & Gaming, told the CHRB in no uncertain terms that their decision would have serious repercussions on racing in California.

An analysis of alternative uses for Santa Anita and San Luis Rey will be undertaken in short order [if racing is allocated to the north],” Fravel wrote. “The current financial model and required capital expense make no sense and the consolidation of operations as discussed last year and at the January Board meeting is the only alternative that has been presented.”

The letter was worded so strongly because a bill working its way through the state legislature would divert simulcast money from Northern California to Southern California in the event there is no racing in the North.

The Stronach Group intends to contribute to the paucity of racing in Northern California by closing down its Bay Area racetrack, Golden Gate Fields, in June.

It’s not clear whether Stronach was serious about closing down Santa Anita, or was employing some strategic brinksmanship. Either way, the strategy blew up in its face.

Landslide Decision

A vote that was by no means assured to go against its interests – to grant racing dates for a 10-week meeting at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton this fall – ultimately became a unanimous decision in favor of Northern California.

It seems the CHRB isn’t to be threatened, as its six board members let Fravel know during Friday’s meeting.

Commissioner Thomas Hudnut complained Fravel was unfairly trying to set up the CHRB as “determinant for [Santa Anita] to go out of business.”

“Because if you go out of business, it’s because of mismanagement, not because of this board,” he emphasized, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Commissioner Damascus Castellanos said the letter “bothered him” and was “not cool.”

“Now we have the north against the south, and I received a lot of calls,” Castellanos said. “I’m not upset because of the calls. I’m upset because I don’t do well with bullies … The bottom line is we need to work together. We need to figure out how to keep racing in California. Not just Northern, not just Southern, but in California.”

The post Stronach Group Threat to Close Down Santa Anita Blows Up in its Face appeared first on Casino.org.

Unfortunately for trainer Todd Balfour, regulator Racing South Australia, which employed the official, failed to see the funny side.

Last week, it banned Balfour from the sport for five years after he admitted to breaking the rules of racing — specifically to engaging in “misconduct, improper conduct, and unseemly behavior.”

Reprehensible Actions

A penitent Balfour told a tribunal that he had no recollection of dropping the official’s slacks and exposing him to a cheering crowd in a nonconsensual fashion, a practice known as “dacking” in Australian slang. It happened because he had consumed a large amount of alcohol, he confessed.

That was largely because of Balfour’s good standing in the industry and a record that included 57 wins from 697 runners between 2010 and 2017 as a trainer.

Before that, Balfour enjoyed a moderately successful career as a jockey. Regulators also considered his guilty plea and the fact that he had apologized to the employee.

Fully Exposed

“Stewards … had regard for his forthrightness at the inquiry, his longstanding involvement in the industry, his personal circumstances, and the fact that he showed remorse for his conduct, which included an apology to the Racing SA compliance officer,” the tribunal found.

However, stewards also considered the serious nature of the conduct, the resultant distress caused to an official, and that objectively viewed, by any reasonable person, such conduct would be considered reprehensible and extremely inappropriate,” Racing SA added.

The tribunal noted that the unfortunate employee was “fully exposed from the waist down to numerous parties present.”

Despite the relative leniency of the sentence and Balfour’s guilty plea, he is expected to appeal, according to the Herald.

This isn’t the first time Balfour has found himself in trouble with authorities when booze has been involved. In September 2021, he pleaded guilty to driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle while almost three times over the blood alcohol limit.

Balfour was banned from driving for six months and issued a $900 fine.

The post Aussie Horse Racing Trainer Banned for Pulling Down Compliance Officer’s Pants appeared first on Casino.org.

That’s bad news for racetrack operators like Boyd Racing and Churchill Downs, which rely on the machines to boost revenues.

When the legislature legalized HHR in 2021, it was billed as a lifeline for the state’s ailing horse racing industry.

What are HHR Machines?

The terminals look and operate similarly to traditional Las Vegas-style slot machines. But their outcomes are based on previously run horse races instead of a random number generator (RNG).

They also operate using a pool-betting system, which manufacturers argue makes them pari-mutuel machines, and therefore, compliant with the type of betting that is widely legal at U.S. racetracks.

The case boils down to a 1996 amendment to Louisiana’s constitution. This states, in part, that “no law authorizing a new form of gaming, gambling, or wagering” that was not legal prior to the enactment of the amendment may be passed “unless a referendum election on a proposition to allow such gaming, gambling, or wagering is held in the parish (county) and the proposition is approved by a majority of those voting thereon.”

?New Tech or Historical Gambling?

Six Louisiana residents recently sued the state’s four racetrack operators, arguing that HHR machines were a “new” form of gaming that required voter approval.

Judge Richard “Chip” Moore II of the 19th Judicial District Court in the Parish of East Baton Rouge agreed with the plaintiffs. He noted that if the machines were permitted under the 1996 amendment, it would not have been necessary for the legislature to authorize them specifically.

This court is of the opinion that historical horse racing wagering is a new form of gaming and falls under the protections afforded by Article 12 of the Louisiana Constitution, as amended,” Moore wrote. “This court is also persuaded by the fact that machines used to facilitate historical horse racing did not appear in any gambling facility until 2000.”

It’s not immediately clear how the ruling impacts the racetracks that offer HHR machines, such as Boyd Gaming’s Delta Downs, Churchill Downs’ Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Louisiana Downs, and Evangeline Downs.

Moore declined to issue a permanent injunction banning HHR machines pending an anticipated trial on the matter.

The post Louisiana Historical Horse Racing Illegal Unless Local Vote, Judge Says appeared first on Casino.org.

The planned checks could be triggered by losses of as little as ￡125 (US$159) in 30 days, or ￡500 (US$ 634) in a year. This could result in a hit of ￡250 million (US$ 316 million) to racing over the next five years — money it can ill afford to lose. Prize money in British racing already compares unfavorably to other countries, and a dwindling industry will cost jobs, according to the Jockey Club.

Critics of affordability checks argue they are an unwelcome intrusion that will drive vulnerable gamblers to black market operators. They also note that the proposed ￡500 per year loss trigger equates to just ￡1.37 a day.

Revenue Already Down

Horseracing receives ￡350 million a year from the regulated gambling industry through sponsorship, media rights, and betting levy payments. But the racing industry says revenues from betting have fallen by 15% to 20% in the past few months, which it claims is a direct consequence of nonmandatory trials of affordability checks by operators.

A Jockey Club petition that asks the government to “abandon the planned implementation of affordability checks for some people who want to place a bet” quickly garnered the 100K-plus signatures required to trigger a debate in the Houses of Parliament. That debate took place Monday.

‘Bad Policy’

In it, Independent MP for St Helens North Conor McGinn described affordability checks as “bad policy in terms of the concept and the philosophy behind it, its purpose, and indeed its efficacy in addressing that purported purpose.”

The affordability checks would have a “detrimental, disproportionate and frankly, existential impact on British horseracing,” he added.

‘Health Issue’

Labour MP for Sheffield Central Paul Blomfield complained, however, horseracing is “being used as a wedge issue to tackle a different problem.”

If this is a health issue, we need to have a prevention strategy, just as we do with other health problems,” he said. “Affordability checks will play an important role. They must be set independently rather than by the industry and set at a level that will protect those who need them most.

Blomfield said he recognizes that many people enjoy betting safely and without harm, and so affordability checks should be frictionless. But he urged the government not to lose sight of the fact that the checks are about “protecting people from harm and ensuring that the gambling industry is regulated in the right way.”

The post Affordability Checks Pose ‘Existential Threat’ to British Horse Racing appeared first on Casino.org.

Such venues include The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries, Va., for which the operator recently won approval to proceed with phase one of the project. Churchill Downs is also slated to open Owensboro Racing & Gaming in Owensboro, Ky. in early 2025. That venue will operate as an annex of Ellis Park Racing and Gaming, and serve to fund purses for horse races at the track.

Although concerns about the state of the domestic horseracing business linger, live and historical racing (L&H) remains a source of strength for Churchill Downs.

Management cited broad-based strength across L&H, with nearly all property revenues beating our model,” wrote Stifel analyst Jeffrey Stantial in a note to clients. “Based on our anecdotal checks, we sense this partly reflects mis-modeled easy weather comps in December, as well as more impactfully tailwinds from skill-based games being shut down in mid-November & continued ramp at key Kentucky properties.”

Stantial rates Churchill Downs stock a “buy,” with a $150 price target.

Churchill Downs Stock A Favorite

Analysts are bullish on Churchill Downs, and that bullishness abounds even though the operator has no Las Vegas exposure, nor is it a major player in the realm of online sports betting.

Growth in the operator’s TwinSpires unit and smart acquisitions are among the reasons why Churchill Downs is among Wall Street’s favorite gaming names.

“The TwinSpires segment also beat nicely with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $34.9M coming in +13%/+12% to our model/Consensus. Revenues were +2% to our model, and inline with Consensus. Adj. EBITDA margins of 33.5% were well ahead of our/Street’s 30.2%/30.1%, likely reflecting mis-modeled mix impact from Exacta,” added Stantial.

Other Potential Sparks

While the first quarter isn’t over, Churchill Downs’ second-quarter earnings could be a spark for the shares. That’s because the Kentucky Derby is slated for May, and the hotel at the operator’s Terre Haute Casino Resort in Indiana is expected to open later that month.

“For CHDN’s KY properties, Q4 results appear fairly inline with our model normalized for mis-modeled easy weather comps. Turfway, Newport, Ellis, & Derby City Gaming continue to ramp nicely post-opening/acquisition/growth capex, while the recently opened Derby City Downtown should see step function growth in Q2 as summer tourism in Louisville begins, while the Derby also drives high visitation,” concluded Stantial.

The post Churchill Downs Stock Primed for Upside as New Venues Come Online appeared first on Casino.org.

The closure is another nail in the coffin for horse racing in America, which was once the most popular spectator sport in the nation. More than 40 tracks have closed across the U.S. since 2000. Grandstands that were built to seat thousands now hold dozens.

Only Game in Town

But on the last day of racing at Northville, The Detroit Free Press reported that the stands were packed out, just like the old days.

“Fifty years ago on a Saturday night, this is what it was like,” longtime regular Gordon Gillis told the Press. “It was crowded, it was crazy, it was the only game in town.”

There was a time when pari-mutuel horse race betting was, literally, the only game in town – or most towns, at least. But horse racing’s decline has occurred in tandem with the rise of other gambling activities over the past few decades.

In the late 1960s, Michigan’s racetracks were attracting 3 million visitors per year and handling $260 million in bets. The decline started with the establishment of the lottery in 1973.

Negotiations Break Down

Until recently, Northville Downs’ owner, the Carlo family, had been in negotiations to relocate its operations by building a new harness racing facility?in Plymouth Township in Detroit’s western suburbs. But negotiations broke down with Plymouth officials two weeks ago.

The proposal was controversial and faced local opposition. On January 23, the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees voted 6-0 to nix the plan, accusing Northville Downs of entering into “bad faith negotiations.”

The sticking point was Plymouth’s demand for a community benefit agreement to offset local concerns about gambling, animal welfare, and disruptive changes to the quiet township. Northville Downs argued the township’s demands amounted to an illegal request for extra money in return for approval of the project.

The Press reported that the Carlo family is still exploring possible alternatives, meaning that live racing still has a chance of returning to Michigan. At the moment, though, it looks like a long shot.

The post Northville Downs, Michigan’s Last Racetrack, Closes After 80 Years appeared first on Casino.org.

Monbeg Genius is owned by Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband, Doug Barrowman. It is priced by bookmakers at 20/1 to win, making it the third favorite.

But the couple is at the center of a media storm. Mone and Barrowman are currently under investigation by the National Crime Agency, the UK’s version of the FBI, over alleged links to PPE Medpro. That company won government contracts worth ￡202 million (US$253 million) to produce PPE equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

PPE Medpro Scandal

Mone, a Scottish former model who founded the lingerie company Ultimo in 1996, was made a “life peer” in September 2015 for her services to business. This allowed her to sit in the House of Lords, the UK’s upper house, and call herself Baroness Mone of Mayfair.

PPE Medpro was contracted to supply facemasks and surgical gowns without competitive tenders under COVID-19 emergency rules that waived regular procedures.

In January 2022, it emerged that Mone used her government position to “aggressively” recommend Medpro for the contract five days before the company had been incorporated.

Much of the supplied equipment fell below the required standard, and the UK government has initiated proceedings to recoup ￡122 million (US$153 million) from the company.

Despite the couple’s repeated denials of involvement with PPE Medpro, The Guardian reported in November 2022 that an offshore trust received ￡29 million from the company via a series of transactions. Those involved Barrowman. Mone, and her children as the beneficiaries of the trust.

In late January, it was reported that ￡75 million worth (US$94 million) of assets controlled by the couple had been “frozen or restrained” by a court order obtained by Crown prosecutors.

Wedding Present

Meanwhile, the British Horseracing Authority is investigating whether Monbeg Genius is one of those frozen assets. Mone purchased the eight-year-old gelding in November 2020 as a wedding present for her husband.

The BHA is aware of reports regarding a court order in relation to the assets of Michelle Mone and Doug Barrowman,” a British Horseracing Authority spokesperson said in a statement. “We are in contact with the relevant individuals to understand what implications, if any, there are for their involvement with racing.”

Should Monbeg Genius be free to run, as has been suggested by The Daily Mirror, it would be bad optics for the BHA.

The Grand National is a national institution, and the only horse racing event with which the general public engages every year. For bookmakers, it’s huge because it captures the “one-bet-a-year” demographic. After all, they see it as a harmless tradition.

The race comes with a ￡500K (US$627K) prize for the winning horse’s owner. Should Monbeg Genius run and come through at 20/1, he may just be the most unpopular winner in the race’s 185-year history.

The post Baroness Mone A Grand National Favorite Despite ￡202M Medpro Fraud Allegations appeared first on Casino.org.

Boyd H. Fenton, 33, of Athens, Pa.,? pleaded guilty to third-degree arson, second-degree assault, and 30 counts of animal cruelty on Monday.

The sentence for arson runs between five and 15 years. Assault leads to seven years behind bars, followed by three years of supervision.?Animal cruelty convictions lead to 15 months to four years in prison.

When Fenton is sentenced on April 19, Tioga County District Attorney Kirk Martin plans to ask for the maximum penalty, according to Lancaster Farming, a regional farm news outlet.

The sentence, even though it’s the maximum we could offer, still isn’t enough,” Martin added. “But we did the best we could.”

Martin said authorities were unsure of Fenton’s motive, but the prosecutor revealed that Fenton had taken drugs before the incident.

He thought people were chasing him,” Martin told Lancaster Farming.

Fenton is currently in custody in the Tioga County jail, awaiting his sentencing.

Recollections of Blaze

None of the horses survived the November 9 fire in Nichols, N.Y. The fire also killed a cat and injured a trainer with second-degree burns. The injured trainer, identified as Edgar Clarke, 68, had grabbed a fire extinguisher after spotting the flames, but the fire was too extensive.

I couldn’t get in the barn,” Clarke told The Times. “It was totally engulfed.

Clarke suffered second-degree burns on his face.

Kayla Morris lost 12 horses in the blaze, all of which she either trained or owned.

I tried to get in the barn, but I just couldn’t because the fire was just so hot and I just screamed and screamed,” she recalled in an interview with The Times. “I sat for four hours and watched it burn and just hoped — hoped — that one of them would come out.”

Among the horses who died was Better Call Saul, an 11-year-old. Owned by Lee Morris, he had 24 career trips to the winner’s circle with earnings of $267,202.

“He was the absolute love of my life,” Kayla Morris told Harnesslink, a horse-focused publication. “He was cheeky, funny, and always hungry. He just wanted to be loved.”

Donations Raised

Fundraisers were established following the deadly blaze.

Jeff Gural, owner of Tioga Downs and chairman of American Racing and Entertainment, matched $100K in donations. Several hundred thousand dollars were raised for the impacted horsemen and trainers.

Tioga Downs Casino Resort is located near the New York State-Pennsylvania border. It provides casino gaming featuring 890 slot machines and harness racing. Many horses that perished in the blaze were used for harness races.

The post Casino Arsonist Faces Years in Prison for Deaths of 30 Horses appeared first on Casino.org.

Secretary for Administration and Justice Cheong Weng Chon told reporters this week the termination was by mutual consent and would be effective as of April 1. The Macau Horse Racing Company, which runs MJC, has been experiencing financial difficulties since the pandemic. It asked the government to be freed from the contract last year.

Cheong cited the “impossibility of aligning horse racing activities with the current developmental needs of society.”

“Considering that these activities have progressively lost their appeal to local residents and tourists in recent years, the government, after thorough research, decided to accept the application from the Macau Horse Race Company,” he said Monday.

The land presently occupied by the club, including the Taipa Racecourse, will be returned to the government, which has no plans to offer tenders for racing in the future.

Financial Trouble

The writing had been on the wall for some time. In 2022, the club reported accumulated losses of US$261 million, and it had recently been forced to shave the number of races from 15 per day to just five because of its weak financial position.

Despite the diminishing popularity of horse racing in the gambling hub, MJC remains one of Macau’s biggest private employers with around 800 full-time workers and 300 part-timers. The government said these employees would receive severance pay in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, MJC has agreed to transport its horses to other locations by March 31 next year.

Cheong said the government will research possible other uses for the facilities. Lawmakers have previously raised the possibility that the track could be transformed into a stadium for international sports events.

44-Year Monopoly

MJC has held the exclusive rights to offer horse racing and horse betting in Macau since its formation in 1980. The club was initially formed as the Macau Trotting Club with the aim of popularizing harness racing in Asia. But harness racing failed to take off in the region and the club pivoted to thoroughbred racing.

In 1991, it was acquired by the Macau Horse Racing Company, a consortium led by late gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, who held the casino monopoly in Macau until 2002.

The post Macau Horse Racing to End as Jockey Club Calls it a Day appeared first on Casino.org.

Club SI, which was originally planned to be the 1895 Club, is expected to open ahead of the 150^th Kentucky Derby on May 4. Financial terms of the partnership between the gaming company and the sports media publication weren’t disclosed.

Club SI will debut as part of the $200 million renovated Paddock Project at Churchill Downs for the upcoming 150^th Kentucky Derby and offer a new luxury equine-focused dining experience with an immersive view of the all-new Paddock and Paddock Runway giving guests unparalleled behind-the-scenes experiences,” according to a statement issued by Kentucky-based Churchill Downs.

The renovated paddock is widely viewed as a catalyst for Churchill Downs, and is expected to lure more visitors to the “Run For the Roses” and other marquee races at the track.

Churchill Downs, SI to Leverage Star Power

Churchill Downs and Sports Illustrated added that celebrity ambassadors will greet guests at Club SI each year during the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks. The venue will be adorned with iconic covers of the famed sports magazine, as well as other sports-related art.

“The club will be open on premium race days and include dining tables to accommodate parties of two, four, six, or eight guests, who will enjoy gourmet dishes from the curated Chef’s Table Buffet, designated wagering windows, private bars, and outdoor trackside viewing for live races,” added the gaming company.

The storied racetrack is also in the midst of a $14 million update of its Jockey Club Suites.

Other Amenities at Club SI

As the first leg of the Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby is the most-wagered on and watched horse race in the U.S., and has a long history of drawing the rich and famous. As such, upscale amenities at the track are a must, and Club SI fits that bill.

Steps from the club, guests will be treated to the SI Enclosure, which will deliver a front-row experience of the Paddock with covered outdoor dining tables to accommodate parties of four,” according to the statement.

In addition to its portfolio of racetracks, Churchill Downs operates 11 regional casinos across 10 states, and historical horse racing (HHR) facilities in Kentucky, Virginia, and shortly, New? Hampshire.

The post Churchill Downs, Sports Illustrated Team Up on Restaurant for Derby Week appeared first on Casino.org.

That values the transaction at $123.75 million, and the per-share price represents a discount from Monday’s closing price of $129.97. The gaming company’s board of directors approved the privately negotiated deal.

The aggregate purchase price is $123.75 million. CDI will repurchase the shares using available cash and borrowings under its senior secured credit facility. The transaction is expected to close on January 2, 2024,” according to a statement issued by Kentucky-based Churchill Downs.

The transaction with the Duchossois Group isn’t related to the gaming company’s previously announced share buyback plans.

Churchill Downs May See Value in Stock

As is the case with a traditional share repurchase program, Churchill Downs’ agreement with the Duchossois Group could signal to investors the operator sees value in its shares.

At the end of trading on Monday, the company behind the Kentucky Derby had 74.80 million shares outstanding and a market capitalization of $9.69 billion. The stock is up 22.94% year-to-date. It’s not clear for how long Duchossois Group has been an investor in the regional casino operator.

“The Duchossois Group, Inc. is privately held and comprised of operating companies and an investment company. Our operating businesses consist of leading brands in access control for commercial and residential markets,” according to the firm’s LinkedIn profile. “The Duchossois Family’s private investment firm, Duchossois Capital Management, creates long-term value by applying the extensive industry knowledge, operational expertise, and permanent capital base developed over ten decades as a family business to a variety of investment opportunities.”

Churchill Downs Beloved on Wall Street

While Churchill Downs has no Las Vegas Strip exposure, and there are lingering concerns about the state of the U.S. horse racing industry, the stock is a gaming favorite on Wall Street. Catalysts include an extensive pipeline of high return on investment projects, benefits from the Exacta and P2E acquisitions, and the emerging growth story tied to historical horse racing (HHR) machines.

Of the nine analysts covering the company, seven rate it the equivalent of a “strong buy,” and the other two rate it “buy.” The average 12-month price target on the stock is $142.56, implying an upside of 9.69% from Monday’s close.

Over the past three years, no analyst has issued a “sell” rating on Churchill Downs.

The post Churchill Downs Buying $123.75M of Own Shares from Duchossois Group appeared first on Casino.org.