Kentucky lottery to give new horse racing game a trial next spring

Horse racing will get a piece of the lottery action with a new game coming to the Kentucky Lottery Corporation, courtesy of EquiLottery.

The lottery board approved a trial of "Win Place Show," a lottery game based on the results of live horse racing. The 90-day pilot begins March 24 in 45 stores in Louisville, Lexington and Northern Kentucky.

"We're looking forward to seeing how our players respond to this new game," said Tom Delacenserie, CEO of the Kentucky Lottery Corp.

In the game, players buy $2 quick-pick lottery tickets through the same draw system used in games such as Powerball and Pick 3. Winners will be based on live races and players can watch featured races live or on replay on the "Win Place Show" mobile app.

Players who match all three in the right order could win $250-$1,800. Match the right numbers in any order and win $10-$80. Non-winning tickets can be entered into a second-chance drawing for racing-related prizes and can be used for free racetrack admission at participating tracks or other items.

"This a great opportunity for us to premier our vision for a live sports lottery," said Brad Cummings, EquiLottery founder and CEO.

EquiLottery studies say the game "will increase scholarship funding through existing and new player participation, and give much needed awareness to the horse racing industry in Kentucky and beyond," he added.

Cummings has worked with equine journalist Ray Paulick who has written columns for the Courier-Journal and is a former Jefferson County Republican Party chairman.