by Tom LaMarra, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Lexington, KY — Top Standardbred breeder and owner George Segal said he sees positive developments on the horizon for harness racing and breeding in Kentucky.

George Segal spoke at the official opening ceremony of the historical race wagering facility at Red Mile in Lexington.

Segal was one of several partners on hand Sept. 17 for the official opening ceremony of the historical race wagering facility at Red Mile in Lexington. The $42 million development is jointly owned by Red Mile and its racing neighbor Keeneland.

Some of the revenue from historical racing machines, which resemble video lottery terminals but are considered pari-mutuel by racetracks, manufacturers of the devices, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, goes to purses and breed development funds.

“Eventually I see the fairs getting more money for harness racing, and I think the racing product during the ‘Kentucky meet’ will improve,” said Segal, a longtime partner in Red Mile. “I don’t see how the racing during our Grand Circuit could be any better, but even that can be improved. And the sire stakes programs could be a lot better in the future.”

Segal also noted the project created about 200 jobs, and that in the long run he hopes the “owners make some money” given their investment in the rebuilding of Red Mile.

Tom LaMarra photos

An exterior view of the new Red Mile facility.

The joint project includes a combined simulcast facility on the expanded first floor grandstand. With a few exceptions throughout the year, Keeneland now offers all Thoroughbred simulcasts at Red Mile, and the harness product apparently has reaped some of the benefits.

Though there are separate betting windows for Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing — and the resulting revenue is kept separate — traffic in the facility in the evening has led to more interest in the live product, said Julie Sorrell, Red Mile director of mutuels and simulcasting.

Sorrell said for the current nighttime meet, pari-mutuel handle on the live product has been up all but one program, and the rest of the nights it has increased 20 percent to 30 percent from 2014.

She also said having separate betting windows for each breed hasn’t been an issue.

“We thought it would be confusing at first, but everyone seemed to learn the system,” Sorrell said.