Citizens of Oak Grove and Christian County, elected officials and representatives from Churchill Downs and Keeneland gathered together and broke ground for the new Oak Grove Racing and Gaming facility Tuesday.
Churchill Downs President Kevin Flanery announced the live and historical horse racing facility’s name—Oak Grove Racing and Gaming—and says it will be constructed in two phases, starting with the harness race track to open in the fall of 2019.
Oak Grove Mayor Theresa Jarvis says this investment will bring people across the country to Oak Grove and have a huge economic impact.
Christian County Chamber of Commerce President Kelli Pendleton says it will create around 400 jobs at the facility and about 800 construction jobs, and eventually bring in tourism dollars.
Excavation has already begun at the location off of Thompsonville Lane in Oak Grove. Once completed, the $150 million facility is planned to include a harness race course, overnight stable facility race-day paddock stable facility, 1,500 historical racing gaming machines, a 128-room hotel, a grandstand seating area, indoor event space, outdoor amphitheater and stage and an equestrian center that will include a 30 pad RV park.
