http://http://www.kentucky.com/103/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2009 Kentucky.com Daily Business Report 60 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:10:35 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench interactive-ops@herald-leader.com http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1018598.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1018598.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:53 EST
Scanlon leases the building at 262 East Vine Street to Thomas King, the restaurant company where he is chief executive. The company uses it for storage and as a delivery place for equipment that will be reshipped to its restaurants, he said.

Renovations began on the building about six months ago after city engineers came to him and said there was a crack on the face of the building that was causing a structural problem. Scanlon hired an engineering firm that built supports inside the building and then pulled off the front brick that had been a structural support and replaced it with a facade.

Scanlon said that when most of the brick was removed, it wasn't reusable. But the construction group managed to salvage some, which he had them use in spots on the front.

"There were some neat elements to the brick," he said. "We tried to use the Art Deco look. It's a stucco facade now."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1018574.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1018574.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:10 EST
Fox Sports South airs some University of Kentucky basketball and football games, as well as other games from the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and NHL.

Its high-definition channel will be on channel 929.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1019313.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1019313.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:28 EST
It came the same day that niche retailer Abercrombie Fitch also reported a drop in earnings.

JCPenney upgraded its annual profit and sales outlook for the year, however, because it is selling more items at full price or on planned promotions, but the outlook for holiday shopping remains uncertain.

After retailers used unprecedented price-cutting in a desperate attempt to liquidate mounds of inventory last Christmas, Myron Ullman III, chairman and chief executive, told investors during a conference call Friday that the big question this holiday season is, "What's the customer's reaction going to be to less clearance?"

Given high unemployment and tight credit, consumers will "shop for the most part on a very tight family budget," Ullman said.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1017123.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1017123.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:46 EST
Jamie Eads, director of the fund, said registration of Thoroughbred mares to participate in the fund is down about 10 percent and stallion registrations are down 6 percent, with seven stallions leaving Kentucky for Pennsylvania.

Fewer than 10,000 mares were signed up by the August deadline; to be eligible, mares must remain in Kentucky until they foal.

"We feel like the mares are the economic drivers in this state," Eads told lawmakers on Tuesday. And while seven stallions doesn't sound like much, she said, it is expected to cost Kentucky about $200,000 in revenue.

The equine incentives are funded by the 6 percent sales tax on stud fees, with 80 percent going to Thoroughbreds, 13 percent to Standardbreds for their annual Sire Stakes, and 7 percent divided among a variety of other breeds such as quarter horses, walking horses and saddlebreds.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1017164.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1017164.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:46 EST
Fans of the model horses can look for "Esprit," commissioned from sculptor Kathleen Moody "to symbolize the spirit of the horses competing in eight different disciplines" at WEG, according to a news release.

Breyer also plans to release collectibles based on the different equestrian sports, including a reining model and a dressage model, tied to WEG. The games are coming to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington from Sept. 25 to Oct. 10.

And in case the kids can't get enough of horses real and plastic while they are at the games, Breyer is setting up an interactive play area "using Breyer's realistic model horses and pint-sized jumps for children," according to the announcement.

"Breyer model horses are iconic in the equine industry, and we are proud to have Breyer as part of the 2010 Games family," said Terry Johnson, WEG 2010 Foundation vice president of sales. "Breyer's creation of the official model horse sculptures will provide spectators and fans with a beautiful memento of the 2010 Games."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1017196.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1017196.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:48 EST
D. Brett Hale has been named senior vice president of corporate and government relations, according to a Churchill Downs news release.

Hale, who has been with the American Gaming Association in Washington for eight years, previously was chief of staff for Whitfield, R-Hopkinsville, and a legislative assistant for McConnell.

"Brett's career experience and strong ties to Kentucky are a great combination," said Robert L. Evans, Churchill president and CEO.

Hale also has worked for Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., as well as the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Republican National Committee.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1015691.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1015691.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:06 EST
During Wednesday's second session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale, the enduring strength of that program came to the aid of the very market that once helped fuel Young's passion.

While the overall numbers continue to be down, Keeneland's November sale got a much-needed boost when four horses from the complete dispersal of Overbrook Farm which Young founded hit the seven-figure mark Wednesday, including the royally-bred Honest Pursuit who sold for a $3.1 million to Alain and Gerard Wertheimer of France.

Honest Pursuit's final price is the highest paid for a horse at public auction in North America this year.

Even in a depressed market, pretty mares with top pedigrees can still inspire fireworks. And with that criteria, 4-year-old Honest Pursuit was a standout. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1015648.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1015648.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:08 EST
Youbet also owns United Tote, a leading provider of pari-mutuel tote services to racetracks such as Churchill Downs, Keene land and the New York Racing Association tracks, and is the exclusive provider of live horse racing footage and results to ESPN.com and CBSSports.com.

"We believe this combination should enable us to accelerate the development of new technology-enabled features and services that horse racing customers who wager via the (advance-deposit wagering) channel want, and that can attract new customers to racing," Robert L. Evans, Churchill Downs president and CEO, said in a news release. "We believe that the anticipated additional growth in our ADW channel handle and revenue, coupled with the expected cost synergies, make this transaction a good way to deliver additional value to CDI and Youbet shareholders."

Customers of TwinSpires.com, Churchill's present ADW platform, and California-based Youbet.com will be able to access accounts, make wagers and withdrawals just as they do now, according to the release.

Shareholders of Youbet (NASDAQ: UBET) will get a ratio of 0.0598 shares of Churchill Downs stock (NASDAQ: CHDN) plus 97 cents a share, according to the release. The transaction could be adjusted so Churchill does not have to issue more than 19.6 percent of its outstanding common stock; after the deal, Youbet.com shareholders are expected to own about 16 percent of Churchill Downs.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1015569.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1015569.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:07 EST
The owner announced last week she planned to close it later this month but has since met with a potential new investor.

Stephanie Bryan e-mailed customers Friday, saying the economy has taken a major toll on the business, in which customers prepare dinners to take home and freeze until it's time to serve them. The last day of operation, she wrote, would be Nov. 30, giving customers enough time to order and pick up Thanksgiving packages.

But a day after sending the e-mail, a customer called Bryan to express interest in investing to keep the franchise open.

Bryan said talks are continuing with the person, whom she declined to identify.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1015542.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1015542.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:59 EST
The furniture dealer, which specializes in commercial interiors, will be working to supply the new Human Resource Center of Excellence being built at Fort Knox, according to a company press release.

The company, which was founded in 1983, became a Knoll dealer in 1996.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1014801.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1014801.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:06 EST
After selling the sales toppers at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select and Keeneland September yearling auctions, the Lyons were the headliners again after buying stakes winner Holiday Runner for $2.15 million on a night that saw the Fasig-Tipton November mixed sale suffer drastic downturns from a year ago.

The success the Lyons' Summer Wind Farm has enjoyed this season was tempered when their mare Onaga dam of Grade I winner Aragorn and his half-brother On a Storm, who sold for $2.8 million at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga died in Ireland in late August at age 15.

In outlasting representatives of Live Oak Stud to claim Holiday Runner, the Lyons think they have an ideal replacement for Onaga. Holiday Runner, the 9-year-old daughter of Meadowlake, already has produced a multiple Grade I winner in Seventh Street, most recently eighth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

"We lost a very precious mare, and we were looking to replace her with something that was capable of producing the kind of horses we hope to breed," Jane Lyon said. "You don't find a mare like this that has everything in one package, that is relatively young and that is for sale. So we think she's special."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1014058.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1014058.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:34 EST http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1014057.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1014057.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:34 EST
D E Communications is a rural Pennsylvania telephone provider that has more than 160,000 access lines that will add to Windstream's existing 200,000 or so in the state.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1014037.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1014037.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:19 EST
The company works in the underground mining, tunneling and civil engineering industries.

"We expect this to be a place devoted to developing solutions not just for today's problems but for the unforeseen problems of tomorrow," said Minova Americas' President and CEO Bruce Cassidy in a statement.

The company expects the center to be operational by spring.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1013514.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1013514.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:04 EST
"We've been evaluating our store portfolio like a lot of retailers and ... this fell in to the handful of underperforming stores that would be closing," spokesman Randy Hargrove said.

The company is working to place the several employees at Euclid at nearby stores, Hargrove said. After the closing, the company will have three stores in Lexington: 2925 Richmond Road, 4222 Saron Drive No. 4 and 921 Beaumont Center Parkway.

The company is offering Euclid customers a discounted rental card offering movies for $1.99 for four weeks to induce them to visit the other stores.

Blockbuster has struggled in recent years, facing increased competition from mail-order and download service Netflix and Redbox kiosks.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1012522.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1012522.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:02 EST
So will that rebound occur during the upcoming breeding stock sales?

"I think the chance of that is not great," Bill Farish of Lane's End deadpanned.

All the optimism in the world can't overcome stark reality, and with the Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale and Fasig-Tipton November mixed sale on the horizon, the effects of the economic downturn and industry overproduction still figure to be prominent.

The Keeneland November sale runs Nov. 10-22 starting at 10 a.m. each day while the Fasig-Tipton one-night auction begins at 5 p.m. following Keeneland's opening session Tuesday.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1012695.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1012695.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:45 EST
UK student Jeff Wei placed third among 54 students in the individual competition.

Gatton's team of Wei, Kent Mulberry and Andrew DuPerrieu placed seventh of 18 groups in the team competition.

The event was held at Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business.

The competition's questions were taken from six weeks of Wall Street Journals on a variety of topics. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1012675.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1012675.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:25 EST
The company purchased the parcels, which run along the right rear of the store, at auction on Sept. 16 and closed on them on Oct. 20.

Danny Lethco, real estate manager for Kroger's mid-south marketing area, said the company paid $405,000 for the property.

"We're in the process of surveying the property to see exactly how much we currently have in addition to these parcels and to figure out what a store might look like if we remodel," he said.

The company wouldn't necessarily expand the store, which recently underwent an update inside that included installing new coolers and a new customer service counter, as well as replacing the interior decor.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1012647.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1012647.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00 EST
"It's kind of a normal course of business," she said. "We evaluate our portfolio as leases come due and decisions are driven by numerous factors."

The store will tentatively close March 14, she said. It employs 64 people. Freely said those who qualify will be eligible for severance, but she declined to discuss the eligibility guidelines.

Kmart's closure will leave Wal-Mart alone as a major discount retailer in the city.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1012611.html http://www.kentucky.com/103/story/1012611.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:25 EST
E.ON U.S. announced it will raise its customer match for the Community Winterhelp and WinterCare Energy Assistance Fund programs from 25 cents to $1. The increase will be retroactive to Nov. 1 and continue through March 31.

Residential customers can donate to the programs with a monthly pledge or one-time contributions. Donations are tax-deductible.

For more information, visit www.eon-us.com.]]>