Bevin says he wouldn't stop slot-like horse game

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Matt Bevin told a thoroughbred industry group Thursday that he supports the continuance of the historical horse racing games that opponents say are slot machines.

"I'm not looking to undo anything that is in place," he said.

While Bevin opposes expanding gambling for casinos, he said the game in use at two Kentucky tracks that involves wagering and previously run horse races is the industry's best hope now.

"It offers as much ability to infuse capital into the purse amounts as anything else that we have," Bevin said.

Bevin spoke to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association's Vision 20/20 group, which attempts to expose future thoroughbred leaders to decision makers on issues that impact the industry. Democratic nominee Jack Conway, the attorney general, spoke to the group July 20 and reiterated his support for historical horse racing, which is being challenged in a lawsuit by the Family Foundation of Kentucky.

Bevin said he believes that the ongoing court case will find the games are legal. While he stopped short of endorsing legislation to re-implement the games if the lawsuit says otherwise, Bevin did say that he would support a legislative re-examination of the issue and support whatever that outcome was.

On possible tax reform, Bevin — acknowledging he was likely giving an unpopular answer to a room with many horse breeders — indicated he might not support existing sales tax exemptions that cover some horse sales.

"I know what the right answer is to tell you, but ... it is not as simple as me saying blanket that everything that people want to keep in place stays in place," he said.

On medication issues, which have divided the industry, Bevin said he is skeptical of new federal legislation that would put an offshoot of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in charge of medication testing for U.S. thoroughbred racing. Current testing is overseen by individual states.

"My gut tells me nothing good for the industry, for Kentucky or for America comes from getting the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency involved in a place that they, frankly, have currently no jurisdiction and, truth be told, probably no qualifications or real experience," Bevin said, adding that his opinion might not be the right one for the industry.

Bevin conceded that he's not heavily involved in the horse industry — Conway has co-owned a Kentucky Derby runner — Bevin did say that he has been a participant in syndicates that owned thoroughbred horses and enjoyed the experience.

"This is an industry that I won't pretend to be an expert in," he said.

Reporter Gregory A. Hall can be reached at (502) 582-4087. Follow him on Twitter at @gregoryahall.