Gaming, racing and online entertainment firm Churchill Downs Incorporated has detailed a further $5.6m investment at Turfway Park, which will form one component of a significant investment into the entity.

CDI purchased Turfway in October 2019 for $46m from Jack Ohio, an affiliate of Jack Entertainment, and Hard Rock International, and subsequently dropped plans to construct New Latonia Racing and Gaming, a new $200m thoroughbred racing facility in Northern Kentucky.

The new £5.6m investment will replace the existing track with a new Tapeta synthetic track, lauded as one of the world’s leading surfaces for racing and training.

Become only the third track in the US to utilise the surface, joined the CDI-owned Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania, removal and installation is to commence on Saturday 28 March, with completion expected to be achieved for the 2020 ‘Holiday Meet’ beginning on December 2. 

The works form one component of CDI’s investment that will make way for development of Turfway Park Racing and Gaming, an up to $150m state-of-the art live and historical thoroughbred racing facility.

“The Tapeta team are all delighted to have been chosen to install a Tapeta surface at Turfway Park,” said Jan Wakefield, vice president of Tapeta Footings. “We look forward to working with CDI and can only applaud them for a huge commitment in upgrading the entire facility. It is a huge boost for Northern Kentucky and comes at a welcome time for the racing industry.”

The redevelopment of Turfway is anticipated to support up to 400 direct full and part-time equivalent positions and create an estimated 800 direct construction jobs. The project will include a historical racing machine facility featuring up to 1,500 machines and new ‘state-of-the-art’ clubhouse as well as food/beverage venues.  

“The agreement with Tapeta is the first of many exciting initiatives to come for Turfway,” said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack and Turfway Park. “By partnering with Tapeta to provide the safest racing conditions for Turfway’s winter meets, we will be able to deliver one of the key elements supporting our goal of bringing a first-class racing product to Northern Kentucky.”