{Louisville, Kentucky}...Some Kentucky racetracks are competing for racing dates in 2013. Churchill Downs is competing for September racing traditionally allotted to Turfway Park in northern Kentucky. The Louisville track traditionally has live racing in the spring and in a fall meet run mostly in November. The Kentucky Downs track at Franklin is asking for three racing dates next March, also encroaching on Turfway's traditional racing. Trainer Dale Romans says he thinks September races could be a winner for Churchill, and it could help strengthen the Kentucky racing circuit. Romans, who has shifted much of his racing operation to New York, which offers casino-enhanced purses, says something has to change in Kentucky because it can't just keep declining. It's up to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to award race dates for the tracks. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has a November 1st deadline for assigning race dates. Its next regular meeting is October 17th.
