Churchill Downs Inc. Gets Permit to Build Slots at Fair Grounds Race Course
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board granted Churchill Downs Inc. the permit to build up to 700 slot machines at the Fair Grounds Race Course. Assistant Attorney General Jeanne-Marie Zeringue Barham was quoted as saying that Attorney General Charles Foti does not think that slot machines at the Fair Grounds would break the City Charter. Since state law does not consider race track slots to constitute casino gambling, the Legislature decided that they should be considered a league onto themselves, as far as legislation is concerned.
Councilwoman Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, whose district includes several respectable neighborhoods in the area surrounding the race track, is concerned that the racetrack may change its current opening hours and that they could possible ruin the serenity and security of the surrounding neighborhoods.
The state police said that Churchill Downs plans to invest 10$ million on slot construction and another 8$ million on slot machines themselves. The company intends to open the slots casino by June 2006.
