TDN Weekend December 2016 Issue 9
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1087484
make a little money out of it. We did it two years in a row and there were two world- class horses running in there, so we really didn't have a good shot. But, we wanted to be a part of it. I didn't know at the time how difficult it would be to get the horse and work out a deal. I talked to a lot of people and it is just tough to get some- body else's horse to be there and work out all the logistics." The Georgia residents are fighting to bring their passion for horse racing into their home state. Dean Reeves is the pres- ident of the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition, which is currently focused on getting pa- ri-mutuel wagering approved in the state. "We are lined up and ready to go," Reeves said. "We had Populous, an architectural firm, do several renderings of what the area would look like. It would probably change a little bit to include a sports book area, so we have our thought process. This is going to be like a $500-million facility. It will be more than just a racetrack. It will be a real event spot to go to with restaurants, hotels, condos, the whole deal. It will be just outside Atlanta. We are ready. We have the funds and backing to do it. We just need pari-mutuel racing and slots to be approved in Georgia." "I HAVE BEEN TAKEN ABACK AND AMAZED AT THOSE FOLKS THAT WORK IN THIS BUSINESS TOP TO BOTTOM."