Slots Fallout: Trainers pulling up stakes

Kentucky's horse industry warned of dire consequences if the general assembly defeated slot machines at racetracks.

 And barely 24 hours later after the defeat in Frankfort, there are new developments.

 

WHAS11 News has learned that one of the biggest names in Louisville racing, Dale Romans, plans to move a large portion of his training and racing operation to New York and Ellis Park plans to close by the end of summer.

 

 Yet, proponents of video lottery terminals to supplement purses say they want the general assembly to reintroduce the bill in January.

 

 "We’re not going to give up," said Patrick Neely, "we're going

 to be back."

 

 But Neely says that in the meantime he expects hundreds of job losses

In the coming months.  Ellis Park’s owner says the Henderson racetrack

 will close after Labor Day.

 

"Our competitive environment is only going to get worse. When we come back in January, we're going to be down a track probably with another one hanging on for dear life, and we'll make the case all over again."

 

But January may be too late for about one dozen horse trainers who the horsemen's association says now plan to move a substantial portion of their operations out of Kentucky. The list includes one of the biggest names in Louisville racing, Dale Romans.

 

"I would say the majority of my stable will race in new York next year after the first of next year," Romans told whas11's Joe Arnold, "it's stunning for me, I have family here, been raised here all my life. I hate to see it happen."

 

Romans literally grew up on the Churchill Downs backside, watching and later training with his father, the late Jerry Romans.

 

Romans, who also operates an Oldham County training facility, says half of his more than 60 workers will have to move to New York with him. With other trainers pulling horses from Kentucky racing, what will become of Churchill Downs?

 

"It’s going to be strong because of the derby," Romans continued, "but it's going to be a much different Churchill downs I think. I think once Ellis (Park) is gone and once Turfway (Park) is gone, you're going to see less and less dates at Churchill Downs."

 

Fewer dates mean less demand for horse industry workers and a ripple effect in the local economy, according Horsemen's President Rick Hiles.

 

"With that we'll lose income taxes, groceries, clothing, gas. They spend money in Kentucky so this has more of an impact than just racing itself."