The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, future home of one of two retail Caesars Sportsbook locations in the Bluegrass State, has hired Gabe Prewitt to run its racing and sports betting operations.
Officially hired as the racetrack’s Vice President of Racing and Sports Wagering Operations, Prewitt joins Red Mile fresh off the news that it and Keeneland partnered with Caesars for a retail sportsbook at Red Mile and an online Caesars Sportsbook Kentucky app.
Prewitt was formerly Caesars Entertainment’s director of racing. Based in Pompano Beach, Florida, Prewitt oversaw racing operations at five racetracks and also served as track announcer at several venues — including Red Mile since 2007. In addition, Prewitt has been part of broadcast teams on CBS Sports, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 and SNY networks.
The retail Caesars Sportsbook at Red Mile will be called The Red Room, located in the former clubhouse.
Red Mile’s place in sports wagering landscape
Red Mile and Keeneland are two of 10 Kentucky venues that can have retail sportsbooks, and they’re the first two to announce any type of partnership. According to the Kentucky sports betting bill, the state’s nine horse racetracks and Kentucky Speedway can open retail sportsbooks and partner with up to three operators for Kentucky online sportsbook apps.
With Red Mile and Keeneland spoken for in terms of retail betting, here are the other eight venues still left up for grabs:
- Churchill Downs
- Turfway Park
- Oak Grove
- Kentucky Downs
- Ellis Park
- Revolutionary Racing
- Cumberland Run
- Kentucky Speedway
When Prewitt will have a sportsbook to oversee
Kentucky sportsbooks will launch on Dec. 28, 2023, at the latest. However, KY regulators are pushing for an NFL launch. Logic dictates the licensing process for retail sportsbooks might not take as long as online sportsbooks, so we could see in-person betting launch before NFL kickoff and apps go live later.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has been tasked with regulating the state’s sports wagering industry. The commission’s next public meeting is June 20, so we should receive more information at that point.
Until then, Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen expects to launch “around football season,” he recently said at a business presentation in Louisville.