Christian County received news Friday that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission awarded a racing license to WKY Development, LLC.
Globe Newswire reports they were awarded the license for twelve live Standardbred racing dates beginning in October 2019 at its proposed racing venue to be built in Oak Grove. The proposed racing facility represents a $150 million economic development project for Christian County and will create nearly 400 direct full and part-time jobs and an estimated 800 construction jobs.
Once the project is completed it will feature up to 1,500 machines, a 125-room hotel with an event center, food/beverage venues, a 1,200-person seated grandstand and event space for indoor events, a 3,000-person capacity outdoor amphitheater and stage, and a state-of-the-art equestrian center including indoor and outdoor arenas.
WKY Development, LLC is a joint venture between Churchill Downs Incorporated and Keeneland Association Inc. both located in central Kentucky. The historic partnership is designed to strengthen and grow Kentucky’s signature horse racing industry and, in particular, its Standardbred racing circuit following last year’s closure of Thunder Ridge racetrack in Prestonsburg.