Industry veterans to lead opening of new racetrack, gaming facility
Eastern Kentucky’s new quarter horse racetrack, equestrian center and gaming facility will be led by longtime racing and gaming industry executives, each bringing decades of experience in high-quality racing and guest experiences.
Revolutionary Racing Kentucky today announced the appointment of four key members of the team that will lead the $55 million investment in Boyd County:
- John Marshall, President
- Conor Lucas, Vice President, Government Relations and Development
- Shelby Morrison, Executive Assistant
- Terry Oliver, Racing and Equestrian Manager
- Mike Anifantis, Racing Secretary
“We promised to build a world-class facility, led by a world-class team,” said Larry Lucas, Chairman of Revolutionary Racing Kentucky. “With these appointments, we are certainly well on our way to delivering on that promise. This is an impressive leadership team for what will be an equally impressive development.”
Marshall brings a rare hybrid of racing, gaming, entertainment, and hospitality expertise to lead the team. He previously led the re-opening of Virginia’s Colonial Downs and pioneered the successful network of historic horse racing facilities, branded as Rosie’s Gaming Emporium. He helped introduce alternative gaming to several new markets within other racetrack facilities, including Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Calder Casino and Racetrack and Miami Valley Gaming, creating thousands of new jobs while reviving horse racing in those areas. He has also held key roles in supporting the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Breeder’s Cup.
“John has a strong record of building teams that work very well with regulators, horsemen and colleagues to deliver what’s promised,” Lucas said. “He also has decades of experience in other forms of family entertainment, like concerts and festivals, that we are excited to also bring to Boyd County as part of this.”
Over the last two years, Conor Lucas has worked closely with Kentucky legislators and regulators, as well as Boyd County officials and the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association. He will continue that work throughout the development process. He previously led legislative efforts to change Arizona gaming laws and helped pass horse racing and gaming legislation in Louisiana.
Morrison, an Ashland native, oversees day-to-day administrative operations. She brings many years of local experience in relationship management and customer service and played a key role in the team’s successful groundbreaking event in October.
Marshall said he is honored to lead the team and pointed to the respected industry reputations that both Anifantis and Oliver bring to the Eastern Kentucky development.
“Terry and Mike are accomplished figures in both quarter horse and thoroughbred racing,” he said. “We’ve worked together in the past and I know firsthand that they bring genuine passion, drive and records of success that will help us to thrive.”
Oliver is also highly regarded in both the quarter horse and thoroughbred racing communities, having served as Director of Racing at Florida’s Oxford Downs and as Director of the Central Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. He is an experienced trainer who grew up in the quarter horse industry and is active with the American Quarter Horse Association. His daughter is a state barrel-racing champion.
Anifantis has more than 40 years of racing experience, most recently serving as Racing Secretary at Prairie Meadows, a quarter horse racetrack in Iowa. He helped open Remington Park in 1988 and has held leadership roles at Hialeah Park, Calder Race Course and many others. He also worked in the race offices at both Keeneland and Churchill Downs.
In July, Revolutionary Racing Kentucky was awarded the Commonwealth’s ninth and final horse racing license. Plans call to invest $55 million to build a quarter horse racetrack, equestrian center and gaming facility, creating more than 200 good-paying jobs and more than $1 million in new local tax revenues.