KY INDUSTRY RALLY: ‘THE REVOLUTION STARTS HERE TONIGHT’
Brereton Jones, the former governor of Kentucky and the chairman of the Kentucky Equine Education Project, pulled no punches during a horse industry rally at Keeneland Wednesday night when talking about what derailed House Bill 2, legislation that would have permitted video lottery terminals at state racetracks and enhanced purses. In an obvious reference to Senate President David “Blackjack” Williams, the "anti-gambling" Republican from Burkesville who likes to visit riverboat casinos in neighboring states, Jones talked about how a “third-world dictatorship” killed the legislation in a Senate committee controlled by Williams’ followers. “The only way to get rid of a dictatorship is through a revolution,” Jones said, “and the revolution starts here tonight. We are going to make this happen.”
That brought the crowd of over 1,000 to their feet in one of many standing ovations during a rally that in some ways demonstrated the resilience, hope and perseverance of horse people. Individuals from virtually all segments of the horse industry attended.
Nick Nicholson, president of Keeneland, served as the emcee of the rally, which was scheduled less than 24 hours earlier in the wake of the defeat of the VLT legislation in the state capital of Frankfort. It began shortly after 7 p.m., when Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear arrived to the first standing ovation of the night.
“I know that we’re disappointed in the final result,” Nicholson said about the legislation that was approved by the House before being killed in the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee. “We’re angry, scared, and more determined than ever. This industry has more solid friends in Frankfort now than it did a month ago. Let me be real clear, no question about it, no doubt. This fight ain’t over yet. We as an industry are more unified than we have ever been.”
Nicholson introduced Kentucky legislators on hand who were among the horse industry’s friends and supported the VLT bill. Present were House members Rocky Adkins (D-Boyd, Elliott, Lawrence, Rowan Counties); Linda Belcher (D-Bullitt); Leslie Combs (D-Harlan, Letcher, Pike); Robert Damron (D-Fayette, Jessamine); Kelly Flood (D-Fayette); Reginald Meeks (D-Jefferson); David Osborne (R-Jefferson, Oldham); Sannie Overly (D-Bath, Bourbon, Fayette, Nicholas); Ruth Ann Palumbo (D-Fayette); John Will Stacy (D-Menifee, Morgan Rowan and Wolfe); John Tilley (D-Christian, Trigg); and Susan Westrom (D-Fayette).
Supporters on hand from the Kentucky Senate were: Walter Blevins Jr. (D-Boyd, Elliot, Fleming, Lawrence, Rowan); Tom Buford (R-Boyle, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine); Perry Clark (D-Jefferson); Denise Harper Angel (D-Jefferson), Gerald Neal (D-Jefferson); Joey Pendleton (D-Christian, Logan, Todd); Kathy Stein (D-Fayette); Johnny Ray Turner (D- Breathitt, Floyd, Knott, Letcher); and Ed Worley (D-Lincoln, Madison, Rockcastle).
Nicholson also thanked House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, co-sponsors of the bill. Neither was able to attend the rally.
One local politician who wasn’t mentioned by name but was referred to several times as the “Senator from Scott” (county) was Republican Damon Thayer, a horse industry consultant and former Breeders’ Cup and Turfway Park executive who has been the point person for the horse industry on legislation in Frankfort but has been silent on the issue of VLTs or slots. Thayer is not a member of the A&R Committee that killed the VLT bill, but today on the Senate floor he reportedly said Beshear and anyone else who wants to support the horse industry should get behind an alternate bill proposed by Williams that would divert funds toward purses through a tax on the state lottery, out of state wagers on Kentucky races, and charitable gaming. Those comments angered Senate minority leader Ed Worley, who gave an impassioned speech on the floor of the Senate criticizing Thayer and others who said Beshear doesn’t support the horse industry. In that speech, which was shown on video at the horse industry rally, Worley challenged those who criticized Beshear to come to Keeneland Wednesday night and hear first-hand from members of the horse industry.
Worley was then introduced at the rally and began his brief talk by asking, “Would the senator from Scott please stand up?” a comment that brought derisive laughter from the standing room only audience. Thayer apparently was not present.
“You do not deserve people who represent districts with horse tracks and horse farms, if they vote against the horse industry. You need to remember them on election day,” Worley said.
Patrick Neely, the executive director of KEEP, was even more blunt in his remarks to the crowd. “Elections matter,” Neely said. “We cannot forget that Alice Forgy Kerr–whose district is home to so many horse farms and to Keeneland—voted no. Only Tom Buford (the lone Republican supporter on the A&R Committee) had the courage to vote yes,” a comment that brought the crowd to its feet with thunderous applause. Another Republican supporter, Rep. David Osborne, was cited as evidence that the VLT legislation was not a partisan bill.
Beshear said he felt if the VLT bill had gotten a chance for an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor, it had a good chance to be approved. “Some of these senators are now looking for cover,” Beshear said. “They’ve thrown out some quick proposals. The senator from Scott (Thayer) said we could even take the money out of the general fund. My friends, they are looking for cover, and I’m telling you: Don’t let ‘em find that cover.”
Now that Ohio appears to have racetrack slots on a fast track to passage, Beshear said Kentuckians will be “educating Ohio’s kids, building Ohio’s roads,” by gambling at Ohio casinos, just as they’ve been doing at Indiana casino boats. “It’s time we kept that money at home to help our people,” he said.
“Tonight is not an ending,” Beshear added. “It’s a beginning of a campaign that’s not going to quit until we have done our job to save our beloved horse industry.”
It’s time to do one of two things, Beshear said. “Change some of the state senators’ minds, or we’ve got to change some of the state senators. Over the next 18 months, let’s get this done.”
Copyright © 2009, The Paulick Report
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Tags: A&R committee, Appropriations and Revenue Committee, brereton jones, damon thayer, david osborne, david williams, denise harper angel, ed worley, flt legislation, gerald neal, greg stumbo, house bill 2, jane beshear, joey pendleton, john tilley, john will stacy, johnny ray turner, kathy stein, Keeneland, kelly flood, kentucky equine education project, larry clark, leslie combs, linda belcher, nick nicholson, patrick neely, Paulick Report, perry clark, racinos, Ray Paulick, reginald meeks, robert damron, rocky adkins, ruth ann palumbo, sannie overly, steve beshear, susan westrom, tom burford, walter blevins jr.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Way to get fired up! Off to a great start!
Now to rally behind matters that really count!
June 24th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Thanks for posting this, Ray. It’s nice to know that the people of Kentucky are not giving up on their signature industry…
June 24th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
They say Horseracing needs slot machines to survive.Is this true?
June 25th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Sometimes a step back is a step forward longer term. You can expect favorable legislation to come out of KY in the next session. Ohio will likely add further impetus.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:56 am
…and in Ohio, there are now unfortunate parallels through powerful State Senator Bill Harris, who has made it known that he has a “point of concern” with adding the governor’s plan for slots in the tracks to the operating budget for 2010-2011. Harris is a Republican and the party controls the Senate….the governor - Democrat - is up for re-election next year.
The state has a “mere” $3.5 billion budget gap to fill, but Harris is playing a political game with an industry teetering on the brink of a meltdown. But politics will be played by bums….and “We the People” must throw them out and get individuals in office who treat this industry with respect….before it’s too late.
June 25th, 2009 at 6:21 am
The great thing about legislators in Frankfort is that all are on record with a vote on our issue. We must clearly reward our friends and replace our opponents. With regard to Senator Thayer, he is a strong advocate for our industry. Unfortuntely he resides within a party that is narrow minded and requires obediency of its members. He has capitulated with the party line by claiming the Williams bill to be a viable alternative and going further to suggest the Governor does not want to help our industry he was being a politican not an advocate.. In saying so he has prostituted himself so as to look supportive while not having to cast a vote on the issue. Even the intellectually challenged can see that he was let off the hook by his party in not sitting on the A & R committee while being the ‘horse senator’. NIce guy, not tough enough to represent us in a tough vote. Alice Forgy Kerr was also mentioned last night. Another disciple of the party and ally of Don Ball who is about the only member of the horse business who has the power to broker a deal with the Republican party. Unfortunately he opposes our plan and does so quietly but very powerfully. Charle HOffman represents Scott county an voted NO in the house. Hill’n'Dale, Crestwood,Summerwind and Kentuckiana are neighbours and are prominent horse farms in his district Stan Lee quoted Woody Allen ( the funny guy that left his wife for his daughter ) in describing our bill. as so terrible i don’t know where to start. In a democracy everyone is entitled to thier opinion on every issue. What we must do is bring these opinions out in the open and hold people accountable for their vote or manipulation of the vote on election day. For the first time i now am sure we will win. Its about never giving up and responding to every loss with a redoubled effort and swelling of our ranks. Last night showed any who questioned this resolve that our industry reacts to defeat will a rallying cry that gets louder every day. The power to win resides in our own hands. Every vote brings us closer to victory. John G. Sikura
June 25th, 2009 at 7:56 am
You will either save your beloved industry or you won’t. It’s up to you, Kentucky. Get out there and fight. I live in NY. We have our own house to clean, but wish you the best.
June 25th, 2009 at 8:09 am
I was unable to attend last night. What I would like is for this site or KEEP or someone to list the businesses of the senators who kicked us to the curb so we can exercise our boycott abilities to NOT support their businesses nor the businesses of the interests who support them politically. If they are not going to pass something that helps us (we’re not asking for money, we’re asking to be able to do something that would eventually give the state more money) I see no need for us to be supporting them.
June 25th, 2009 at 8:53 am
I think we are a little late. This Rally should of taken place last week when Williams said stick a fork in it. People will forget about all this in a month. Eighteen Months will give Churchill a chance to see how they can screw the horseman over the slot money. KEEP is WEAK.
June 25th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Amen to Dray33 (#7). As Kentucky goes, so goes the horse industry. And as John Sikura noted, we finally have transparency on where individual Kentucky legislators stand on this issue. Now we need to prosecute accountability with deliberation and the Senate will surely be under different management in 2011. While the Senator from Scott is not, unfortunately, standing for re-election in 2010, we can take some solace in the fact that he will be demoted to minority status with the resulting loss of his Committee chairmanship Given the confluence of ulnerabilities of his Republican Senate colleagues — like Senator Kerr — in the context of the potentially deep resource base of the Kentucky horse industry (and the GOP Senator’s related opposition to education funding and cutting taxes e.g. eliminating the tax on horse products), it should be like shooting fish in a barrel.
Ray, you deserve an Eclipse Award for your coverage of this issue.
June 25th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Sorry to quibble with Surfer Joe, but KEEP held a rally last week. Right before the House vote that passed. About a thousand people showed up. The Governor spoke, and like last night, it was a great event. This is a motivated, united industry right now.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:26 am
“This is a motivated, united industry right now.”
What a joke. Motivated and united when subsidies are available; anything but when it comes to addressing the myriad fundamental and structural problems riddling the industry.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:49 am
John and Beth
great letters! I like the fact that I not only know who voted FOR but who also voted against!
We will help the YES people and ask for the heads of those that voted no.
I am very interested in knowing where the no votes work and who for. I have already contacted Kroger’s and told them that I will be shopping elsewhere thanks to mr hoffman. he is entitled to his vote but my choice to shop is mine!
david williams (the new Barabbas) will have his day and the two Judas’s (Kerr and Thayer) will have theirs!
June 25th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Beshear was elected by the horsemen as an industry friendly politician, and then he voted against the first bill that would have helped the industry. Now that the economy is in the toilet and he realizes that slots could have bailed out his state, he’s on board with slots. What a hypocrit. Why are you horsemen not demanding his reasons for that first vote? He stabbed you in the back, but now he’s your friend. Horsemen are acting like a bunch a sheep so easily led by these slimy politicians. Beshear is a such a weaking that he needs his wife to stand up with him at a podium. That doesn’t convey much personal strength. I wouldn’t trust him, but unfortunately he’s all we’ve got right now.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Can’t trust whoring politicians whose votes shift based on money flow and power.
Well said Jeremy Jet: If only horse racing could find enough wisdom and integrity to rally against preventable, widespread racehorse destruction like it is rallying to go after slots welfare.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Be careful for what you wish for. Redistributing the pie is not the same as increasing the pie. Money going to slots must come from somewhere else. It will be money that is not spent at Wal*Mart or any otther local store, resulting in lower tax receipts, resulting in the government needing a larger porting of slot reciepts. That will be less money going to purses. And, if the slot business is not successful, racing income may have to subsize the cost of the slot machines and debt. Also, everyone will want their hands in the slot till. Teachers unions, auto unions, govt unions, roads, bridges, welfare, health care. Yes! Slots will pay for everything. It will be all free! Riiiiiggghhhtt. Every Kentuckian will have to play slot machine 24/7 to satify all the promises and demands on this new found free money. What ever happened to work and thrift? Productivity? Wealth production? I know, that’s so 50s. Sheeesh.
June 25th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
The current focus appears to be keeping the KY purse structure competitive with current VLT states. We must not ignore the eventual approval of VLT’s at the NYRA. It will happen and when it does Keeneland will struggle keeping their perennial elite status.
June 25th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
To Racing; will that make you happy ?
June 25th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
The tracks need slots to survive. Racing doesn’t need them. It cost so much to keep these facilities open. The slot money is needed for this. These racetracks are expensive to keep up along with barn area. I’m with Greathouse, it’s time to remember these people who turned their backs on us.
June 25th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Does anyone know where the Farishes and the Clays stand on this? I think Wil Farish has a bunch of clout in Republican-land!
June 25th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Robert Damron abstained in the voting, I heard he was not for the bill. If he is a friend of the horse industry he would have voted yes.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:16 am
The Farishes aren’t gamblers so they don’t relate to all this. He did givea million to jockeys this week which was a great move. Timing was a little odd. They have the clout to get things done but don’t use it for racing.
June 26th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Brer Jones threatening anybody is a pathetic joke. Libby, call your boy home to dinner.