Churchill Downs and Keeneland have won the right to build and operate Kentucky’s first new harness racetrack in 25 years.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission selected the joint venture over rival bidders Kentucky Downs in Franklin and Caesars-Bluegrass Downs, favoring their plan for a $150 million facility in the city of Oak Grove located off Interstate 24 near the Tennessee state line and targeting the greater Nashville market.
The racing portion of the complex will feature a 1,200-seat-grandstand with space for indoor events and a modern equestrian center. Other highlights include a 3,000-seat outdoor amphitheater, a 125-room hotel with meetings and events space and a number of food and beverage venues.
The key to the project, though, are a planned 1,500 machine games. These will operate as a parimutuel system, as required by Kentucky law, paying out winnings based on the results of past horse races.
An estimated 800 people will be employed during the construction phase, followed by 400 full- and part-time jobs once the property is open.
Ground is expected to be broken early in 2019.
