Ky Downs wants to build Oak Grove track

The ownership of Kentucky Downs in Franklin has filed an application with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to build a standardbred track to be named Oak Grove Meadows on 80 acres near the intersection of Interstate 24 and Fort Campbell Boulevard.

A news release says Kentucky Downs is committing $45 million to the Oak Grove project and plans to spend an additional $25 million in a major expansion of its existing track in Franklin.

The proposed track would race 15 days in October and November of next year, with purses fueled by year-round betting on 500 Exacta Systems historical horse racing electronic terminals. The harness track would be five-eighths of a mile with 450 stalls.

Corey Johnsen is president of Kentucky Downs and says, “For a number of years, we have been working with the Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association and the City of Oak Grove to fill a void in the standardbred circuit and to create an entertainment and tourist destination in southwest Kentucky that complements existing businesses and enterprises.”

The global design and architectural firm Populous has been retained for both Oak Grove Meadows and the Kentucky Downs’ expansion.