Kentucky Downs – Gem of the Bluegrass

by Ed Meyer

posted on August 31, 2017 in Blogroll, General Discussion, Handicapping, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | No Comments >>

Kentucky Downs is located on the border of Kentucky / Tennesee. – No, really. You can see the last weigh station, where the 5/8th’s pole would be located at Kentucky Downs. Offering the highest average daily purses in North America at $1.68 million for 2017, Kentucky Downs attracts the best jockeys and trainers and some of the finest horses in the country. It’s low takeout (the amount is taken off the top of each dollar bet that goes toward purses, state taxes, and the racetrack) and with America’s largest average field sizes at 10.96 horses per race in 2016, Kentucky Downs has been rated the No. 1 track for bettors by the Horseplayers Association of North America for the third straight year. – The beauty and down home southern feel is one-of-a-kind. I have been a big fan from many moons ago, and as a turf racing fan, I couldn’t ask for more.

The idea of having entertainment has become a staple of every track. – No more are we just opening doors and hope they show. The facility is an entertainment destination. – Stop on over to “Lucky 7’s” diner and catch the feel of a 50’s style vibe. Who knows, you might even see Arthur Fonzarelli (The Fonz) hanging by the juke box. – There is a bevy of seating arrangements and the track has the feel somewhere between a country fair and Keeneland. – There has been a long road since having the “Sly Fox” restaurant and hot dogs and popcorn.

I’m a turf racing fan and for me, there is nothing better. The handle on turf races is always better for tracks and at Kentucky Downs is a European style track with an undulating configuration. – There is full card simulcasting and the track has something for everyone. With hundreds of historical horse racing machines, you’re sure to find a favorite at Kentucky Downs. We offer over 600 Exacta Systems terminals with a total of 46 unique game titles. Correctly predict the finishing position of as many of the horses from the three historical horse races as you can, and you could be on your way to a jackpot. Since 1998, Kentucky Downs has hosted charitable gaming operations for important community organizations in the Franklin-Simpson County area. Charitable gaming continues today at Kentucky Downs, as five local charities operate BINGO games six days a week. – Food, fun, gaming, bingo, and horse racing. What more could a gambler ask?

Here is the live racing calendar from the Kentucky Downs site:

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 LIVE RACING TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!

First Post Approximately 1:25 PM each race day.

GET TICKETS

2017 SCHEDULE

RACE DAY 1: SATURDAY, SEPT. 2

Grayson Jockey Club Day

RACE DAY 2: THURSDAY, SEPT. 7

Old Friends Day

RACE DAY 3: SATURDAY, SEPT. 9

Kentucky Turf Cup Day

RACE DAY 4: SUNDAY, SEPT. 10

College Day

RACE DAY 5: THURSDAY, SEPT. 14

Franklin-Simpson Day

 

 

There is a brand new wager on the menu, and I’m a big fan of trying new wagering for the public. Many tracks balk at the idea and enjoy being the conservative when it comes to offering up a new bet. Kentucky Downs is unleashing a new wager that may hold a great deal of fun for the casual to hard core bettor. Sometimes it’s hard to please both, but you’ll never know unless you try and Kentucky Downs is not afraid to pull the lever.

Kentucky Downs is launching another horse-racing innovation with Saturday’s debut of the Jockey7 wager, which allows the horseplayer to bet on individual jockeys and their mounts over each card’s last seven races.

The Jockey7 wager will be conducted over Races 4 through 10 throughout Kentucky Downs’ unique five-date meet that starts this Saturday and continues Sept. 7, 9, 10 and 14 over America’s only European-style grass course. The Jockey7, whose results are based on a points system for top-four finishes, will be listed as Race 11 but will be closed for betting before Race 4.

Win, place, show, exacta, and trifecta will be offered on the Jockey7. – No matter the outcome, you have to tip your cap to any track that likes to push the envelope. – Be sure to keep Kentucky Downs on your list of tracks to play. Turf wagering at its best and for some of the best purses in the nation. Hard not to like the little track on the Kentucky border. For more information, please visit the track website to make your plans:   http://bit.ly/2wobnHO