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Associated Press 16y

Oaklawn expansion to cost between $25M and $40M

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Oaklawn Park thoroughbred race track
could spend as much as $40 million on an expansion to make room for
more electronic gambling machines, the track's general manager
said.

Oaklawn's 54-day live meet was scheduled to open Friday, an
event that will also bring patrons to an electronic gambling area
that features tables and machines. The area offers what the
Legislature has designated "electronic games of skill," such as
video poker and blackjack, as well as the track's Instant Racing
machines that have been in place since 2000.

The expansion is to begin in May, Oaklawn General Manager Eric
Jackson said.

"We don't have a final plan yet so we don't have a dollar
number either but it's generally looking like it will be in the $25
(million) to $40 million range -- something like that," Jackson
said.

Southland Gaming and Racing spent $40 million to add nearly
1,000 of the electronic gambling games at the dog track in West
Memphis.

Jackson said Oaklawn would have an electronic gambling area
similar in scope to the one in West Memphis.

"The (construction plan) we're most focused on right now would
just about double the number of player positions we have. Today, we
have about 480 positions and that would just about double it,"
Jackson said.

Oaklawn has been planning to expand since voters in a 2005 local
election agreed to let the track expand its gambling options. Last
September, the Arkansas Supreme Court turned away a court challenge
to the vote.

"Our plan and our hope is to still start construction when we
get the horses out of here, which should be around May 1 if all
goes well," Jackson said.

Jackson said the location of the expansion is still not final,
but the focus is on expanding the south grandstand to the south and
west.

"But that is certainly not final yet, either. We're still
trying to work through some issues and it's not inconceivable that
we could back up and punt again," Jackson said.

He said the expansion probably would not take in much, if any,
of the south parking lot. He would not address whether Oaklawn Park
has purchased other property near the track.

Hot Springs Planning Director Kathleen Sellman said the panel
expects to review Oaklawn's proposal in March.

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Information from: The Sentinel-Record, http://www.hotsr.com

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