Turfway hangs on while awaiting Instant Racing

The rumors of Turfway Park closing have persisted for years now. Business at the northern Kentucky track has slumped steadily, and management often has struggled to offer a respectable racing product.

But until something else happens, “we’re in here trying as hard as we can,” said Chip Bach, the Turfway general manager who worked long hours Thursday as the track opened for four months of winter racing.

Bach, like anyone else paying attention, acknowledged “the advantage other jurisdictions have over Kentucky racing with alternative gaming” as handle and purses at Turfway have declined. In the meantime, the track is prepared to install Instant Racing machines, which has occurred already at Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs as a means of bolstering purses.

“We’re handcuffed at this moment,” said Bach. “We’re just trying to get to where the [Kentucky Supreme]) Court validates Instant Racing, and if or when it does, we’re all set to put it in here. We’ve vetted it out. Barring some miracle in the legislature, it’s our main hope for now.

“In the meantime, we’re doing what’s within our power for our horsemen and fans.”

Turfway is located on prime real estate in Florence, Ky., which is why rumors of it being bought and converted into something else are always popping up. The property is owned 90 percent by the partnership of Rock Gaming and Caesars Entertainment, with Keeneland retaining 10 percent.

But as long as it stays open, Turfway will continue to strive to offer big fields (opening night averaged nearly 11 horses per race); an enjoyable on-track experience (Friday nights long have been very popular with locals); and a well-maintained Polytrack surface (Turfway is in the second year of a three-year restoration program costing nearly $500,000).

Parade of longshots

The Thursday opener was absolutely dominated by big prices. Favorites went 0 for 9, and the average win payoff was $25.80.

Not only did you have to sift through the big fields to find those winners, but also obstacles such as this:

◗ Silver Ember ($53, race 3): Had finished ahead of exactly one horse in each of his last three starts.

◗ Knowurbrew ($60.60, race 5): Won for a $5,000 tag after losing his last 17 starts, the last 11 of them for $4,000.

◗ Otto Shootie ($31.20, race 7): Won for maiden special after finishing last by 34 lengths in a maiden-claiming race at Churchill Downs last out.

Jack Gilligan, an 18-year-old apprentice from England, was the only rider to win more than once Thursday night, scoring with Bluemymind (race 2) and Abbys Promise (race 8). His agent is former jockey Mark Johnston, a winner of more than 3,100 races in his career.

Leigh recuperating

Longtime racing official Rick Leigh has been hospitalized off and on since undergoing treatment Nov. 18 to radiate brain lesions, according to his stepson, Tyler Picklesimer. “Overall, he’s doing fine,” said Picklesimer.

Leigh, 66, served as director of racing at Turfway for more than 20 years before Picklesimer assumed the position in October 2013.

Orm will ride for Drury

Trainer Tom Drury is among those primed for the long Kentucky winter. Based at the Skylight training center about 25 miles east of Louisville, Drury usually has horses for the higher-end Turfway races – maiden special weight, allowances, stakes – as opposed to the claiming events that typically make up most cards.

Drury said he intends to frequently use jockey Cory Orm on his Turfway horses. Orm has hired as his agent Steve Peery, who was a perennial top agent in Washington and Oregon before becoming the Equibase chart-caller in Kentucky in 2008.

◗ Jesus Castanon was back riding at Turfway this weekend after twice being slightly injured on closing weekend at Churchill Downs. Castanon will be active at Turfway for a couple weeks before heading to Oaklawn Park, according to agent Doc Danner, who also will be working for Joe Rocco Jr. at the Arkansas track.