No Churchill-Cup bet deal

Churchill Downs Inc. and its six tracks had not reached an agreement as of Tuesday afternoon to take bets on the three Breeders' Cup future bets this weekend, officials for both sides said.

Time is winding down for the sides to sign a simulcasting contract. Betting is scheduled to open at 1 p.m. Eastern on Thursday and continue through 7 p.m. Sunday.

Officials for both sides said they ultimately expected to reach an agreement, but they declined to comment on the sticking points in the negotiations.

"There are some details to work out, just like any other business arrangement," said Karl Schmitt, a spokesman for Churchill Downs.

Churchill owns Arlington Park outside Chicago, Hollywood Park in Southern California, Calder Race Course in Miami, Ellis Park in western Kentucky, and Hoosier Park in Indiana.

All of New York's regional offtrack betting corporations have declined to take the wager. The corporations were represented in their negotiations by New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation, which failed to reach an agreement with Breeders' Cup over the weekend.

At participating locations, future bets are being accepted this weekend on the Classic, Turf, and Distaff. The fields for each wager include 23 individual horses and a field bet comprising all other horses not named. The minimum bet is $2, and no refunds will be issued.