Birmingham Racing Commission meets for the 1st time since gambling bill proposed

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - On Wednesday, the Birmingham Racing Commission met for the first time since a bill has been introduced to potetnially allow electronic and casino gambling at the Birmingham Race Course.

Members of the racing commission are keeping their fingers crossed because right now the track is barely keeping its head above water making money. The Birmingham Race Course is the only track in Alabama with live dog racing. The track has simulcast horse racing from other tracks. People continue to lay down bets but nothing like in the past. The race course hopes to land electronic gambling machines as well as casino table games.

If this comes then track operator Milton McGregor has promised to bring back horse racing. Racing Commission officials believe this will boost revenue and to allow the track to again provide thousands of dollars to local governments and charities.

"In a gaming operation, you want as much diversity as possible in terms of product and attraction. It just give this tremendous opportunity to compete with the Mississippi industry and the Native American casinos that are already in the state," Kip Keefer, Executive Director of the Birmingham Racing Commission, said.