Churchill Advocates Owning Casino in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Associated Press) — A Churchill Downs official says if expanded gambling is approved in Kentucky, it is important that the company own and operate any casino located in Louisville.

Brett Hale, who is Churchill's senior vice president for corporate and government relations, told The Courier-Journal (http://cjky.it/112vtUk) in a statement on Friday that if another company was allowed to run a casino in the Louisville market "138 years of racing heritage and Kentucky Derby tradition will be put at risk."

The statement came in response to a question on how the company felt about the possibility of a downtown casino instead of one located at the racetrack. It comes as the Kentucky Legislature prepares to begin meeting this month.

Gov. Steve Beshear has pushed for years to legalize casino-style gambling in Kentucky.