by Tom LaMarra, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Lexington, KY — The Red Mile in Lexington, Ky., will be offering Thoroughbred simulcasts for the first time since the late 1990s beginning July 15 under action taken by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

The KHRC on Wednesday (May 6) approved a request by Keeneland to expand where it offers simulcasts. By statute it may do so within a 60-mile radius; if there is another track within than radius, it must approve, and The Red Mile did so via letter to the racing commission.

The consolidation is coming in advance of the opening of a historical race wagering facility jointly owned by The Red Mile and Keeneland but being built at the harness track. Full-card simulcast operations will be housed in a 28,000-square-foot area on the second floor, which leads out to the apron for live racing.

The Red Mile meet begins in late July and ends in early October.

Keeneland will continue to offer simulcasts during its live race meets, auctions, and for major event days in Thoroughbred racing such as the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The Red Mile, however, will remain open as well to give the Lexington area two outlets for simulcasts on those big days.

Keeneland has unionized mutuel clerks and The Red Mile does not. Shannon Arvin, counsel for the Keeneland Association, indicated that won’t change, as there will be separate betting windows and self-service machines for Thoroughbred and Standardbred simulcasts. Both tracks are licensed to handle wagers on Quarter Horse racing.

Keeneland officials said they hope the new arrangement offers a better simulcast experience for local horseplayers.

The historical race wagering operation, which will have about 1,000 machines and other amenities, will be connected to the front of The Red Mile grandstand. The facility is expected to be operational by September.

In other business, the KHRC approved expenditure of about $132,000 from uncashed pari-mutuel tickets in 2014 to support the Kentucky Colt Racing Association, which has a series of fairs in late spring and summer around the state. The finals are held at The Red Mile in late July.