The southern American state of Kentucky has reportedly awarded its ninth and final local horseracing license to a Massachusetts-based company that is planning to construct a $55 million quarter-horse facility near the eastern city of Ashland.

According to a Tuesday report from area television broadcaster WSAZ-TV, the unanimous decision from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will allow Boston-headquartered Revolutionary Racing Kentucky LLC to bring its envisioned horseracing and equine development venue to a 177-acre plot of land located about eight miles from the center of the Boyd County community of approximately 21,000 people.

Planned premiere:

Revolutionary Racing Kentucky LLC reportedly told the broadcaster that it now plans to start construction later in the year in hopes of being able to open the as yet unnamed quarter-horse venue in 2024. The enterprise also purportedly disclosed that the coming development is set to employ some 200 locals and feature a 660-yard sprint track designed by Populous in consultation with the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association offering daily purses of up to $500,000.

Authoritative advocacy:

The decision to award the license to an eastern Kentucky project was purportedly taken because this part of ‘The Bluegrass State’ has been underserved ever since the Thunder Ridge harness racing track in the nearby city of Prestonburg closed in 2017. For this reason and The Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper used its own Tuesday report to divulge that the planned project received letters of support from Democratic Governor Andy Beshear as well as influential local legislators Robin Webb, Patrick Flannery, Scott Sharp and John Blanton.

Gambling guise:

Larry Lucas serves as the Chairman for Revolutionary Racing Kentucky LLC and he reportedly told WSAZ-TV that the future Boyd County development is to furthermore offer around 400 slot-like advanced historical racing games, which will allow patrons to wager on the outcomes of previously-run races, in addition to a year-round entertainment complex and areas for quarter-horse competitions and shows. The experienced executive purportedly asserted that the coming venue, which moreover received backing from The Red Mile harness enterprise in Lexington, will likely generate roughly $1 million in annual tax revenues and appeal to afficionados across an immediate tri-state area containing well over 350,000 people.

Lucas reportedly stated…

“This project is as much about economic development as it is the quarter-horse community. We are very grateful and humbled by the confidence shown by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the support from the Governor’s office, the Mountain legislative caucus, Boyd County, the city of Ashland and the people of eastern Kentucky.”

Elevated enthusiasm:

For his part and the Chief Executive Officer for Revolutionary Racing Kentucky LLC, Prentice Salter, reportedly pronounced that he is now ‘excited to take the next step’ in the journey towards bringing ‘a world-class facility to Boyd County.’ He finished by declaring that his company ‘will continue to work closely’ with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission alongside its range of ‘quarter-horse partners and the community’ so as to construct a facility for which ‘all Kentuckians can be proud.’