Churchill Downs working with Turcotte on access complaints

Churchill Downs will attempt to address complaints lodged by two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Ron Turcotte about his treatment by the company on several Derby Days in the past, a spokesperson for Churchill said, adding there had been “a communication breakdown.”

Turcotte, who has been confined to a wheelchair since a racing accident in 1978, alleged in a public statement he released Wednesday that he had received “no assistance” from the track in securing a handicapped parking space for the 2012 and 2013 Kentucky Derbies and was not granted complimentary access to the Churchill grandstand in 2013 despite being a guest of the Kentucky Derby Museum that year to sign autographs. Turcotte, a Hall of Famer, won the 1972 Derby on Riva Ridge and the 1973 Derby on Secretariat.

John Asher, the Churchill spokesperson, said that he had a “good conversation” with Turcotte on the phone on Wednesday night, and that he offered an apology from Churchill.

“I pledged that our team at Churchill Downs would move forward and we would establish clear lines of contact and communication should Mr. Turcotte have issues and frustrations moving forward,” Asher said.

Asher further stated that “we’ve clearly had some problems and we’re working on fixing them.”

Turcotte’s statement was released at a time when criticism of Churchill and its management has dogged the company not only at its Louisville track, but also at its properties in New Orleans and Florida. Horsemen in those states have been highly critical of Churchill’s management of Fair Grounds and Calder.

Meanwhile, some bettors have called for a boycott of Churchill because of a takeout hike that went into effect for the start of the track’s meet last Saturday.
In Louisiana, horsemen have been pressing the legislature to pass a bill requiring the company to spend 10 percent of its slot-machine revenues in the state on capital expenditures at the track. Earlier this week, the state’s racing commission granted Churchill a one-year conditional license for Fair Grounds, on the condition that the track make good on promises to spend money on the track’s turf course and other initiatives.

In addition, Rick Porter, a prominent owner, released his own statement earlier in the week complaining about his dissatisfaction with Churchill about the company’s treatment of owners for the Derby and Oaks card. Porter’s Normandy Invasion is entered to run in the Alysheba Stakes on Oaks Day.

Asher said owners of horses entered in stakes are offered the opportunity to purchase box seating. If they do not purchase box seating, they are given complimentary passes for a “third-floor walk-around,” which gives the owners access to a room with a buffet, Asher said.

Asher said he has talked with Porter since the owner released his statement, and that Churchill has invited him to present the trophy for the Eight Belles Stakes on Friday. The race is named after the filly owned by Porter who suffered catastrophic injuries after finishing second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby.