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Lebanon Raceway operators blast Penn National plans for Dayton track
The operators of Lebanon Raceway on Thursday blasted plans by Penn National Gaming to build a new thoroughbred horse racing track in north Dayton on the grounds of a former Delphi Corp. automotive plant.
“We will strongly oppose” Penn National’s plan to relocate its Beulah Park racing track near Columbus to the north Dayton site, Lou Carlo told a meeting of the the Ohio Racing Commission.
It would detract from Lebanon’s appeal and upset plans to move its operation to a newly built facility if plans go through to permit video slot machines at racetracks, he said. A final decision on a new site has not been made, Carlo said.
“I expect some respect for the work we’ve done,” said Carlo.
Penn National officials have scheduled a 3 p.m. press conference Thursday in Dayton on their plans for the new track.
The Lebanon Trotting Club, owned by the Carlo family, and Miami Valley Trotting, owned by the Nixon family, operate Lebanon Raceway now located at the Warren County fairgrounds in Lebanon.
Carlo’s comments came after Tim Wilmott, Penn National president and CEO, outlined plans to move the Beulah operation to north Dayton and to move Toledo’s Raceway Park operations to a new track near Youngstown. The moves are contingent on allowing the video slots at the tracks.
Wilmott said the relocations would annuallly increase Ohio’s gambling taxes by $209.2 million and racing purses by $18.4 million.
The plans “benefit the state of Ohio and benefit the racing industry in Ohio,” said Wilmott.
He said Penn National didn’t inform other tracks of their plans because the presentation to the racing commission was informational and the company is not formally seeking permission to move the two operations.
Wilmott said he knew there would be some “consternation.”
Penn National’s plans call for investing $200 million to build the new track in Dayton , generating 1,500 jobs in the Dayton area, in addition to 1,000 construction jobs.
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By Steve
February 20, 2011 11:19 AM | Link to this
Welcome to the disgruntle gamblers venting forum..My name is Steve and this is the only place I feel like I can get revenge for losing my kids college money.. So I’m here to blame the owners of track.. Dam You Guys !
By Steve
February 17, 2011 6:44 PM | Link to this
Whoo Ha, After being victimized by Lebanon Raceway & Warren Co. Ag. Soc. I could not be happier to see Penn Nationals plan. They led the public to believe their insurance would pay for our horses that burnt up in the fire last year.After much under handed dealing, the facts of people living in the barn was not proven. There was more evidence of Ronnie & Turtle living in the barn than Ryan Widmer killing his wife.If you think your going to get a fair shake with any Warren Co. official or Lebanon Raceway you need to STOP and read a news report. Judge’sons get their vehicles back after 2 DUI arrests. Do you believe you would? Lebanon Raceway is in violation of several Racing Commision Rules at this time. It is the nastiest family business in the USA. Do not cry for Lebanon Raceway. It is no big loss.In fact it probably is a blessing to be rid of the s**t hole!!!
By Lebanon Rules
February 15, 2011 11:28 PM | Link to this
Penn National won’t build anything in Dayton because they would have to change the law to do so.. Lebanon Raceway will build a 200 million state of the art facility in South Dayton..They already have to green light !!!
By Candleguy
February 15, 2011 7:15 AM | Link to this
I think this is a great thing for Dayton. Not only will it bring in the many jobs needed, it will also help other related business…ie restaurants, hotels, etc. The law that is in effect does not allow racetracks to operate at the same time within a 50 mile radius. It has worked in the past with Florence, Cincy & Lexington, why not here?
By Marsha
February 13, 2011 7:40 PM | Link to this
And I think most racing fans enjoy harness racing, but let’s face it, Lebanon is a dump. How nice if we could have a new state-of-the-art place in the city, where people can actually enjoy the experience.
By Marsha
February 13, 2011 7:36 PM | Link to this
Funny Trigger, I am all for the track but your comment made me giggle! ‘Secre Tariat’, have you ever seen the backside, the feed stores, the vet clinics, trailer and truck sales, hay dealers, and tack stores around racetracks? Most are almost like small towns. There are at LEAST 1,500 related jobs, probably much more than that. Not including office staff, race officials, outriders, jockeys, and others that you see each race day. It takes a lot of folks to put a race meet on.
By ladytopaz
February 12, 2011 2:26 PM | Link to this
@Penn Dover ~ A new racetrack has not been built in the state of Ohio since the late 50’s! I for one would love to see Penn build a new one in Dayton. And as for the one in Lebanon? It’s a mess and not appealing. It itself needs a major overhaul.
By Scott
February 11, 2011 11:16 AM | Link to this
I have to agree, the Lebanon Raceway is the worst horse track I’ve ever been to. It doesn’t appear like it’s been updated since it was first opened up. I’m tired of only seeing harness racing around here as well. How boring!
By Trigger
February 11, 2011 10:05 AM | Link to this
Has there been an environmental evaluation of the site? There is probably enough contamination that the horses will be falling over dead.
By Tom
February 10, 2011 7:51 PM | Link to this
Bring it on Penn and thank you! I am really tired of all the fun stuff to do in Dayton not being in Dayton. You have to drive to Cincy or Columbus for just about anything. Dragon’s don’t do it for me.
By Skeptic
February 10, 2011 5:09 PM | Link to this
I hope they build a world-class track. That would be great! I would enjoy going to races in the summer. I could care less about slots. Fools and their money are soon parted.
By T-man
February 10, 2011 3:14 PM | Link to this
I think this is a good investment for the community. I have lived nearby my whole life and frankly this allows me not to travel to spend my time and money. Also this are has many strip clubs and bars so it is a good all around draw for a friday or saturday of entertainment.
By Penn Dover
February 10, 2011 2:56 PM | Link to this
There is already a law in place protecting racetracks from competition. No one can build with in 50 miles..Look it up for yourself.. Sorry Penn !
By Penn Dover !!!
February 10, 2011 2:56 PM | Link to this
There is already a law in place protecting racetracks from competition. No one can build with in 50 miles..Look it up for yourself.. Sorry Penn !
By johnny
February 10, 2011 2:37 PM | Link to this
its way to congested in that area now, the ordor from that corn processing place is sickening, rail trax are a few yards west of the old plant. Who gonna pay for the road improvements? Me? You?
By Hugh Jass
February 10, 2011 2:36 PM | Link to this
Why do they need Carlo’s permission? Hint, they don’t. When a chicken restaurant opens 2 miles from another one, do they get permission? Subway? Nope. The Lebanon track is a toilet at best, frequented by some shady people. When was the last time it was updated? It smells like a sewer, it’s dull looking and the parking lot is pit. Why would anyone come there?
By Chris
February 10, 2011 2:20 PM | Link to this
Any industry is good for Dayton. Especially one that will use vacant land. I don’t understand all the anger in Ohio against gambling related enterprise. If Ohioans would have accepted gambling as an industry much earlier, we would have been much better off as a state.
By Secre Tariat
February 10, 2011 1:57 PM | Link to this
Ever been around Beulah race track? You couldn’t find 1500 track and related community jobs with a search warrant. This will be a small to medium casino with a race track as a landscape feature. Since there will be full scale casinos in Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo, this gambling palace will attract largely Dayton-Springfield region and Richmond area residents and a few passersby from I-70. People within a reasonable travel radius of Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo aren’t going to travel to a slots-only place when they have a full featured casino nearer to them. So this will scavenge largely local discretionary dollars from other local entertainment venues such as restaurants, taverns, etc. So we’ll probably see more small business closings because all you’re doing is shfting jobs and money from other segments of the community to the slots casino -oops, I meant race track. And the profits will end up going to Pennsylvania rather than reinvested back into the Dayton area.