Busy day here on this Champions
Day backside at Churchill Downs,
our coverage brought to you by
the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.
All week long we've had
VIP's stopping by our tent.
Talking about everything that they're doing,
Derby week and of course the economic
impact of what this week means to everybody.
And so it's totally appropriateo
have Governor Andy Beshear here
today because I mean, Governor,
thank you for taking time for b,
busy day and busy week.
And I want to begin there becaue
I feel like, you know,
we're out here celebrating five
O 2 day yesterday to celebrate
Louisville in the community.
But I can't even begin to under
score and I know you can kind of
explain the economic impact of t
this means to not only Louisvil,
but Kentucky.
Thrilling. This is the time of r
where all the eyes of the world,
not just the country,
are focused right here on
Louisville and and Kentucky.
It's a chance to show the
very best of of who we are.
Chance to show how we have
an economy that is on fire,
a chance to to to talk about hag
the lowest annual unemployment
rate in our state's history.
Good things are happening here in Kentucky,
and it's building a foundation.
So that our kids and our grandkids never
feel like they have to leave Kentucky.
Do we have every opportunity
right here Derby weeks,
a big part of that
big part and a lot of big things
happening right here in Louisvi.
I know on the show we talked a lot about
like the Opportunity Center with goodwill.
But there's a number of other projects
right now going on right now rit
that that are really kind of tht
you are seeing here in Louisvil.
That's right. Standing you known
first that that Goodwill Opporty
Center and building the 1st hosl
in the West End of Louisville
in 150 years is incredible.
It's it's hundreds of of.
Good jobs at at good pay but its
also healthcare right there in a
neighborhood where you won't hao
take two buses just to see a dor
but but look at all the headquas
that are expanding Congo which s
a prime that that drink that has
just exploded is adding 500 new
employees at 40 something dollas
on the on the average hourly wa.
It is a special time where Louisville is
growing and the Commonwealth is growing.
Look at Ford and how it expanded the.
Global truck plant launching the new F-250.
Look at the battery plant,
the largest battery plant on planet earth
that we're building just below E Town.
It is an exciting time in Kentu.
So much attention to has been
placed on sports betting.
This is the last Kentucky Derbyt
we're going to have where it's t
you know Derby betting and thins
like that like end of the year t
new gaming law kind of takes ef.
Can you like break that down
like how this will impact what's
happening here because it sounds
like from Churchill Downs perspective
this is this is a great thing.
It is a great thing and it certy
puts to rest any criticism thata
Democratic governor can't work h
the Republican supermajority ine
legislature and make things hap.
I mean, this year we passed both
sports betting and medical marijuana,
and that says when you put the
interests of our people first.
We make sure we're not moving a
state to the right or the left,
but actually moving it forward
for all of our families.
We can do good things regardless
of our party.
Sports betting is going to be exciting.
It is an all hands on deck
activity and state government.
Right now our goal is to get it out there
and to roll it out by the NFL season.
It's going to be a sports book
in places like Churchill Downs
and across the Commonwealth whee
you can go with your friends and
make memories watching the NCAA
tournament or other sports.
It's going to be online in ways
to where we won't now be driving
over to Indiana to place that b,
paving their roads.
It's going to keep the revenue right here.
But but most importantly,
it's what Kentuckians wanted,
and that should be enough.
You know, we've been watching al
these Derby and Oaks contenders
out on the track all week long.
Have you had a chance to kind of
look through like, who are your
top picks for Oaks and Derby? I
have, and this is, this is alwas
a tough one because I now know a
lot of people that have horses,
you know Ron Winchell and his
stables that had Epicenter last
year and have a horse this year.
But I think this year I'm goingh
verifying Brad Cox is Louisville trainer.
He's credited with the Derby,
but he's never gotten that tropy
handed to him and I think he
deserves it in the cool more fo.
The owners help us so much
in economic development.
So we'll bring in a big company
and we'll take them by cool mor.
We'll show them justify,
we'll show them American Pharao.
And we'll say every day's
like this in Kentucky.
All right, So now the most
important question that our vies
want to know what was it like
to have dinner with Jack Harlow?
He's a great guy, OK? No, you.
I mean, that is the coolest thi.
You had dinner with Jack Harlow
and he probably is telling peope
I had dinner with the governor.
He is a great guy.
It was not just me,
but my wife and my kids.
What did your kids think?
Well, they. I thought their dad
was cool for the first time eve,
but but this is he is genuine.
He was asking my kids as many questions
about their life as he was about mine,
but it's just a chance to get to know him.
I love how much he loves Kentuc.
He loves this city.
He wants to be a great ambassad.
He's got his life in a great pl.
His new album was incredible and
and genuine and authentic and and raw.
So I'm a big fan.
All
right. Well, thank you again
for taking time to stop by.
We know you have a big,
busy, busy week ahead.
And send our best to Brittany.
Please, the first lady.
I'll do it.
Thank you very much.
Thank you so much.