Down the stretch they don’t come? The way forward for horse racing in New Orleans is in jeopardy because the mum or dad firm of the legendary Honest Grounds Race Course & Slots has doubled down on its intent to tug out of the town.

Kentucky-based Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) despatched a letter to state legislators saying that the corporate is taking preliminary steps to voluntarily give up its Honest Grounds license as a result of a latest courtroom ruling, hostile state laws, and stalled negotiations, all resulting in an absence of financial viability.

The Thoroughbred Every day Information obtained CDI’s letter, signed by CDI CEO Invoice Carstanjen and despatched to the Louisiana State Racing Fee (LSRC), cc’ing high-ranking state politicians.

“Given the legislature’s ease with which it authorized laws that’s immediately hostile and dangerous to the financial pursuits of Honest Grounds, the opposition by elected officers to interact in significant options in collaboration with the Honest Grounds, and the forthcoming adjournment of the legislative session, CDI is left with no alternative however to request an look earlier than the LSRC to start the following steps for voluntarily surrendering the racing license held by the Honest Grounds,” wrote Carstanjen.

Churchill Downs acquired the Honest Grounds out of chapter in 2004. For 21 years, CDI has operated each the racetrack and its on-site on line casino. The Gentilly website has been the house to New Orleans horse racing since roughly the 1850s, making it the third oldest racetrack in america. It was previously often called Union Race Course, and the title modified to the Honest Grounds in 1863.

There are a number of elements at play in CDI’s preliminary determination to voluntarily give up its Honest Grounds license. The downturn started in March when the Louisiana Supreme Courtroom affirmed a decrease courtroom’s ruling that Historic Horse Racing (HHR) machines are unconstitutional with out buying native voter approval in each parish during which they’re positioned. HHR machines – which allow wagers on random video replays of previous horse races – contribute considerably to CDI’s income and after-tax revenue in Louisiana, accounting for 46% and 74% respectively. Along with the

Gentilly on line casino website, CDI operates 13 off-track betting (OTB) retailers.

The Louisiana Supreme Courtroom ruling led to a CDI legal professional showing earlier than the Louisiana Racing Fee in Could, notifying commissioners that CDI wouldn’t proceed with the 2025-26 season (November-March) until the state legislature would help the corporate in working across the courtroom’s ruling. That workaround was not reached.

CDI officers grew to become additional irked by two payments that have been handed within the Home and Senate. Home Invoice 540, signed by the President of the Senate on June 10, would enhance the variety of video poker machines at truck stops from 50 to 60 and allow bars and eating places to function as much as 4 video poker machines, versus the earlier quantity of three. Louisiana Home Invoice 547, at present awaiting Gov. Jeff Landry’s approval, seeks to legalize mounted odds wagering on horse races inside the state. The invoice additionally proposes a handbag complement fund, allocating 55% to Thoroughbreds, 24% to Quarter Horses, 14% to the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Affiliation, and seven% to the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Affiliation for breeder awards.

The letter continued: “For the previous few months, CDI has tried to interact in good religion discussions with elected officers and varied different trade stakeholders to discover a path towards long run financial viability for the Honest Grounds after the latest determination of the Louisiana Supreme Courtroom that resulted within the elimination of HHR and practically half of the Honest Grounds’ off-track betting (OTB) revenues,” wrote Carstanjen. “Thus far, our efforts to interact elected officers haven’t led to significant discussions and, confoundingly, CDI’s efforts have been met with a mixture of reluctance, indifference, apathy, and even opposition.”

In recent times, citing lack of profitability points, CDI has additionally ceased racing at Arlington Park in Illinois, and Calder Race Course in Florida.