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Voters approve slot machines for Calder On Tuesday, voters in Miami-Dade County, Florida, approved slot machines for Calder Race Course and two other pari-mutuel facilities. The ballot issue passed by a margin of 63 percent to 37 percent. As a result, Calder, Flagler Dog Track and Miami Jai-Alai will each be able to install 2,000 Class III Las Vegas-style slot machines. In March 2005, Miami-Dade County voters defeated a slots ballot issue by a margin of 52 percent to 48 percent. In neighboring Broward County, Gulfstream Park, Isle of Capri Harness Track and Mardi Gras Greyhound Track all have slot machines, which voters approved in 2005. Calder is the second facility owned by Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) to receive approval for slots. CDI-owned Fair Grounds opened a temporary slot-machine gaming facility on September 21. The permanent facility, located adjacent to the east end of the grandstand, is being constructed and is slated for completion in November. "We are very pleased with the outcome of the election and greatly appreciate the overwhelming support that voters in Miami-Dade County have shown for Calder, Thoroughbred racing in South Florida, and the thousands of workers who depend on the pari-mutuel industry for their livelihood," CDI President and CEO Bob Evans said in a statement. "Yesterday's vote was an important step in keeping Calder on a level playing field with area casinos and with racetracks in Florida and other states that already offer slot-machine gaming. "Thoroughbred racetracks without slot-machine gaming are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to providing the competitive purse programs that attract the number of horses required to conduct high-quality racing. We believe the new revenues generated through slot-machine gaming at Calder will help fund important state programs, put more people to work, and benefit horsemen and horse breeders through higher purses. "Our sincere thanks go out to the many individuals who devoted their time and talents to the 'Yes for a Greater Miami-Dade' campaign, including an exceptional campaign staff, our Calder employees, and our partners, the Havernick family and Flagler Dog Track. It was truly a team effort, and the many months of hard work were rewarded with a decision that should benefit the state of Florida and the pari-mutuel industry in Miami-Dade County for years to come." "We have been working on plans for what we believe will be a competitive slot-machine gaming facility at Calder and anticipate having more details to share publicly about the Calder operation during our next quarterly conference call with the investment community in March 2008," Evans concluded.
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