Kentucky Blue Collar !
Churchill has the
derby, Keeneland has the charm, Ellis Park has prime summer dates
Turfway Park gets what's left. Running as a mostly winter time track
Turfway has a purse value index of 21 well below its rich southern
relatives.
Turfway Park originally was named Latonia Race Course. Latonia was built to replace the original Latonia track who's site was about ten miles away, and was a premier racing venue from 1883 to 1939. Latonia started out running low level claimers and extended it's season running harness horses.
In 1972 the track trying to improve the quality of racing inaugurated the Spiral Stakes a $15,000 race. In 1982 Jim Beam Distillery took over sponsorship of the Race. At this point it had become a major stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby. In 1986 Latonia Race Course was renamed Turfway Park and the Jim Beam was elevated to Grade II status.
In 2011 the Spiral Stakes was sponsored by Vinery Farms and worth $500,000. The race was also reduced to a Grade III stakes. The race was won by Animal Kingdom who went on to win the Kentucky Derby. Turfways non racino purse value index was 22 and Ben Creed won the riding title. Racing resumes in 2012.
In 2012 Turfway Park is in trouble. Most of it's stakes have been gutted, it is looking to reduce the number of live dates it runs, and most important of all racinos and casinos are starting up across the river in Ohio. Even if Kentucky finally agrees to enter the saturated gaming arena, will it be enough to save Turfway Park.