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This illustration shows what the new Warren County racino near Monroe is expected to look like. It?s scheduled to open in 2014, pending various state approvals. Provided

Paul McKibben reports:

The owners of the racino that’s being built in Warren County near Monroe announced Tuesday it will give the county $3 million to help redevelop the Warren County Fairgrounds.

The county-owned fairgrounds – located on North Broadway Street in Lebanon – will be without horse racing and a major tenant when the Lebanon Raceway moves to the racino site. The racino is expected to open during the first quarter of 2014. The county has estimated the fairgrounds needs $2.5 million in repairs.

Among the ideas that have been mentioned for the fairgrounds is an equestrian center, a youth sports complex and convention space for smaller-scale events such as wedding receptions. The county could also sell the property and a find a new home for the county fair.

The county could receive a total of $6.5 million for redevelopment of the fairgrounds. Warren County Commissioner Dave Young said the county has already received $500,000 in deferred maintenance on the fairgrounds from the two trotting clubs that owned the Lebanon Raceway. The county could also get up to $3 million from the state for losing the track.

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Posted in: News, Warren County |

Tags: Tags: dave young, jim simms, miami valley gaming, racino, warren county, warren county fairgrounds

Alexander Coolidge reports:

State officials are concerned there won’t be enough seats in the grandstand when Lebanon Raceway moves to Turtlecreek Township and adds a video slots operation.

“Seven hundred seats is too small,” said Robert Schmitz, chairman of the Ohio State Racing Commission. “Some county fairs here have more seating than that.”

Officials are reviewing final designs for the 186,000-square-foot “racino” complex that combines a race track with 2,500 video lottery terminals by Miami Valley Gaming & Racing.

Last month, the commission gave final approval to move the race track, but final approval of the building plan is pending, Schmitz said.

Developers said they believe their plans for the grandstand are appropriate, but they will continue to work with the commission.

“Miami Valley Gaming & Racing believes the 700-seat grandstand, and space to temporarily accommodate more guests, will meet the needs of horse racing fans that will visit this new facility,” spokeswoman Amanda Wurst said.

Last month, developers closed on a $60 million acquisition of the racetrack and said they were moving ahead on their $215 million expansion plan.

Moving to a site near Exit 29 off Interstate 75, the racino is slated to open in early 2014.

Miami Valley is a joint venture of Buffalo-based Delaware North Cos. Gaming & Entertainment and Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc.

Posted in: News, Warren County |

Tags: Tags: lebanon raceway, ohio state racing commission, racino, seats, turtlecreek township, video slots

The Associated Press

A company planning to build a $175 million racino in southwest Ohio has moved a step closer to its goal.

Miami Valley Gaming & Racing announced Friday that it purchased harness racing licenses and other assets from the Lebanon Trotting Club Inc. and Miami Valley Trotting Inc.

The Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/R9QhF7 ) reports the new facility is expected to open in Lebanon in Warren County in the first quarter of 2014.

The project will include a harness racetrack and a 186,000-square-foot building that will open with more than 1,000 video lottery terminals. Miami Valley Gaming says the facilty is expected to create about 1,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs.

Penn National Gaming also is planning a racino. The construction cost for the Dayton project is estimated at $125 million.

Posted in: News, Warren County |

Tags: Tags: buffalo, casino, commissioners, lebanon, miami valley gaming & racing, monroe, racino, tutlecreek township, warren county, warren county fairgrounds

This illustration shows what the new Warren County racino near Monroe is expected to look like. / Provided

Paul McKibben reports:

Warren County commissioners on Tuesday approved plans for a $175 million racino to be built in Turtlecreek Township, near Interstate 75 and Monroe.

The gambling facility will combine harness with video lottery terminals. Construction is expected to start next month and a last a year. The racino is a joint effort between Churchill Downs Inc. and Delaware North Gaming & Entertainment Cos.

The racino is expected to employ 700 people.

This story will be updated.

Posted in: News, Warren County |

Tags: Tags: buffalo, casino, commissioners, lebanon, miami valley gaming & racing, monroe, racino, tutlecreek township, warren county, warren county fairgrounds

This illustration shows what the new Warren County racino near Monroe is expected to look like. / Provided

Warren Co. commissioners will take up proposed $175M facility on Tuesday

Paul McKibben reports:

Warren County commissioners on Tuesday are hoping to approve a plan for a $175 million racino that would be built near Monroe and Interstate 75.

Anchoring the 120-acre site would be a 188,000-square-foot casino with up to 2,500 video lottery terminals, a 5/8-mile racetrack for standardbred harness racing and a two-level grandstand with 700 seats. A racino combines horse racing with video slots.

The racino would feature four restaurants, a gift shop, a 10,000-square-foot maintenance building and a paddock building/holding barn for the short-term stabling of up to 85 horses.

It is planned for the northeast corner of Ohio 63 and Union Road in Turtlecreek Township near Monroe. The land was formerly a state prison farm. Lebanon Correctional Institution is directly across from the site on Ohio 63.

The closest residential subdivision is Shaker Run, which is about four miles to the northeast.

A report from Stan Williams, planning director of the Warren County Regional Planning Commission, said a noise impact study found minimal potential impact to that development.

Williams noted there is a hotel, restaurants and retail in the immediate vicinity that compliment the racino.

“There is also potential for expansion and development in the vicinity that could cater to the racino customers,” Williams’ report said.

Miami Valley Gaming & Racing, a joint venture between Churchill Downs Inc. and Delaware North Cos. Gaming & Entertainment, hasn’t named the Warren County racino yet. The Lebanon Raceway would move from the Warren County Fairgrounds in Lebanon and become the new racino.

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Posted in: Business, News, Warren County |

Tags: Tags: casino, commissioners, dan corey, lebanon correctional institution, miami valley gaming & racing, monroe, prison, racetrack, racino, stan williams, the lebanon raceway, turtlecreek township, video slots, warren county

Horses race at the Lebanon Raceway. / Tony Tribble for the Enquirer

Lebanon Raceway’s impending departure opens up options

Paul McKibben reports:

When the Lebanon Raceway leaves the Warren County Fairgrounds next year or early 2014 for a new racino near Monroe, taxpayers will be left with a vacant 100-acre piece of prime real estate.

Warren County commissioners will decide the property’s fate. Recommendations so far range from a youth sports complex to an equestrian center to selling the property. Or the county could try to attract businesses to the site. Commissioners said it could be a year before a master plan is unveiled.

“That fairgrounds is like a jewel in Warren County, and it could really be a jewel if they make the right moves when the racing leaves there,” said Bill Smith, vice president of the Warren County chapter of the Ohio Horseman’s Council Inc.

Racinos are part of the gaming industry’s effort to expand in Ohio. Scioto Downs in Columbus, which opened June 1, is the only racino operating in Ohio. The Warren County racino, promising 700 jobs, is one of five racinos pending approval, according to the Ohio Lottery Commission.

Racinos combine horse racing and video slots.

The county owns 93 of the fairground’s 105 acres, 35 miles north of downtown Cincinnati. Lebanon Trotting Club Inc. and the Warren County Agricultural Society own the other 12 acres. The county’s portion has a $1.9 million assessed value.

For now, the county fair will stay put. Next year’s fair is scheduled for July at the fairgrounds, months before the racino would open.

Joe Wilson, president of the Warren County Agricultural Society, said the fair prefers not to move. But he said the fair is not compatible with a sports complex, primarily because of parking needs.

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Posted in: Business, News, Warren County |

Tags: Tags: business, convention, dave young, lebanon, lebanon raceway, lebanon trotting club, ohio horseman's council inc, racino, real estate, tourism, warren county, warren county equine advisory board, warren county fairgrounds

Paul McKibben reports:

Warren County commissioners today approved a special taxing district for a new racino that is expected to bring 700 jobs and millions of dollars of tax revenue as soon as late 2013.

Sale of the 120-acre property for $4.5 million from the state of Ohio to Miami Valley Gaming & Racing of Buffalo, N.Y., the racino operator, is pending.

The land, formerly a state prison farm, is located at Ohio 63 and Union Road in Turtlecreek Township, near the Monroe outlet mall on Interstate 75. Lebanon Correctional Institution is located directly across Ohio 63.

The Lebanon Raceway would move from the Warren County Fairgrounds in Lebanon to the new location. A racino combines horse racing and video slots.

Miami Valley Gaming’s plans, filed with the county, include a 188,000-square-foot casino and a five-eighths-mile track with a two-level grandstand that can seat 700. The casino will have up to 2,500 video lottery terminals but no gaming tables.

The casino would be open 24 hours a day/seven days a week.

Miami Valley Gaming is a joint venture between Delaware North Cos. Gaming and Entertainment and Churchill Downs.

Lebanon City Schools, Turtlecreek Township, Warren County, the Warren County Career Center and other taxing units will benefit financially from the racino because the property is currently owned by the state and governments don’t pay property taxes.

The Enquirer will update this story.

Posted in: News, Warren County |

Tags: Tags: buffalo, casino, commissioners, lebanon, miami valley gaming & racing, monroe, racino, tutlecreek township, warren county, warren county fairgrounds

Paul McKibben reports:

Warren County appears to be softening its rigid anti-video slot machine stance for the Lebanon Raceway, but county officials are still helping its owners move away from the county-owned fairground.

State prison farm land in Warren County might become the new home.

State Rep. Lou Blessing, R-Colerain Township, has sponsored a bill that would allow the property to be sold to the raceway. The property, at Ohio 63 and Union Road, is used by the Lebanon Correctional Institution.

The new raceway would have video slots along with horse racing, thus becoming what is known as a “racino.” In the past, county commissioners said they would not allow a racino on county property, though there are now signs that could happen even before the move.

The proposed location for the new raceway is near Interstate 75 and the I-75/Ohio 63 interchange in Monroe, site of the Cincinnati Premium Outlets shopping mall.

Warren County Commissioner Dave Young, who helped negotiate the deal, said the racino is just one more progression of development at I-75 and Ohio 63.

“We want that to just be a major retail (and) tourism destination,” he said. “People are coming to Warren County there at that exit to shop, and there’s also a lot of commerce that’s going on there.”

(more…)

Posted in: News, Warren County |

Tags: Tags: dave young, gambling, i-75, lebanon, lebanon correctional institution, lebanon raceway, mason, monroe, prison land, race track, raceway, racino, rep. lou blessing, ron maag, turtlecreek township, warren county