LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc. is at work on its seventh casino-style historical horse racing facility in Kentucky, with plans to open Owensboro Racing & Gaming in early 2025.
The facility, an extension of the company’s nearby Ellis Park racetrack in Henderson, Ky., will have 600 slots-style historical racing machines as well as retail sports wagering, simulcast wagering on horse races and “multiple food and beverage offerings,” according to a news release.
“In addition to delivering a premier gaming and entertainment experience to Daviess County, this project will build on the success of Ellis Park’s racing product and further contribute to a healthy and sustainable horse racing circuit in Kentucky,” Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen said in a news release.
The standalone gaming facility will be at the corner of US Highway 60 and Wrights Landing Road, about six miles east of Owensboro’s city center and about 45 miles from the racetrack in Henderson, the company said.
Churchill Downs plans to spend $100 million to $110 million on its construction, the company told investors.
Historical horse racing, which uses the results of old horse races to mimic a slot machine experience, has been a booming industry in Kentucky, with Churchill Downs the largest player.
The company in December opened Derby City Gaming in downtown Louisville to complement its Derby City Gaming venue off Poplar Level Road, which opened in 2018.
