Churchill Downs Opens Fall Season Under Internet Boycott

Since Beshear's protectionism is designed to shelter Churchill Downs, Inc., as owner of the horse track and its online entity, TwinSpires.com, Bradley has led a growing number of pleas to focus the boycott against the track and its online gambing site.

Sunday marks the beginning of a five-week live racing series at famed Churchill Downs Race Track in Kentucky, but all is not well for the eponymous company owning the track. Churchill Downs has unwittingly been caught in a controversy begun by Governor Steve Beshear.

Beshear is attempting to have a Kentucky court seize the domain names of 141 online casinos. Despite numerous arguments presented by attorneys for the Internet gambling sites, as well as legal experts concerned with the lack of either Constitutionality or jurisdiction of the order, Judge Thomas Wingate has allowed the case to proceed.

Beshear has stated his reasons for pursuing the order are to protect Kentucky gambling concerns from competition that doesn't pay state taxes and to protect children from exposure to gambling. Sherman Bradley of Online Casino Advisory has pushed for a boycott in response.

Since Beshear's protectionism is designed to shelter Churchill Downs, Inc., as owner of the horse track and its online entity, TwinSpires.com, Bradley has led a growing number of pleas to focus the boycott against the track and its online gambling site.

The world will be watching as the season begins, eager to see not only if the track's handle and TwinSpires wagering are off expectations, but also how Beshear protects children from dangerous gaming exposure through either venue.

Regarding juvenile protection, Bradley said in an interview, "Children attend the track with parents without any control from the state. The tote board is in clear view, and adults everywhere are purchasing tickets and then screaming with excitement during the race. Of course, it all feeds revenue to the state, so learn quickly, kids, gamble here! It's fun!

"Further, while TwinSpires does ask potential patrons to state their age, there is no verification as to the truth of the answer. But Beshear must figure that only upright adults look at that site, unlike the evil Internet gambling sites he wishes to block.

"It is a shame that Beshear's hypocrisy will taint the season of a venerable institution like Churchill Downs, a fine track perfectly capable of handling competition on its own."