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Churchill Downs Will Limit Slot Operations

LOUISIANA – As reported by the New Orleans Times-Picayune: "Churchill Downs officials said Thursday that they would limit operation of the hundreds of slot machines they hope to install at the Fair Grounds racetrack to an average of 16 hours a day.

"That is considerably more hours than many neighbors want to allow and more than the City Planning Commission voted for last week, but significantly less than Churchill had sought earlier.

"The final decision is up to the City Council, which is expected to decide the issue June 16.

"In a conversation with editors and reporters of The Times-Picayune, Churchill's chief operating officer, Andrew Skehan, also said the company would agree to pay for 24-hour police patrols of surrounding neighborhoods if it gets the 16-hour schedule it seeks for its racetrack casino, or 'racino.'

"Before the Planning Commission, he said Churchill would pay for such patrols only during the hours the casino is open.

"…Skehan said Churchill wants to vary the number of hours of gambling, with some days having more than 16 hours and others less, but in no case would the casino be open for 24 hours, which he said is not politically feasible. He did not give specifics as to which days would have longer hours…"

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