Kay Family done at Davenport as promoters. Because of Fairboard.

[Dirt Clod]

Sad for the Davenport promoters. Terre Haute is another track that the fair board and promoters can't get along. They ran Track Enterprises off, then another group tried for one year and they left. This year they had a whopping 3 USAC races. Remember when Farmer City did the same thing to Track Enterprises. Fairboards can definitely be evil to a promoter.

[Morgs153]

It is almost always a delicate relationship where a fairgrounds/fair board is involved with a race track, not just this one venue in particular.

A fair board will often be looking at what can improve their overall facility and the successful operation of the racing part of the facility gets them seeing dollar signs if the track is a successful venue. Where the track promotion group sees their success and wants to continue that and improve upon that with a cooperation of investments into the track facility because they see that as what is working and that is their focus.

The fair board sees good crowds, multiple shows, maybe special events and they think, oh great we can use the money the track is bringing in to (take your pick); fix up a barn, build a new building, build new bathrooms on the midway, lay some pavement down here and there, etc... If not managed correctly it can, and often does, lead to conflicts.

I have some experience in my community with our fair and fair board. We used to have a bad fair board. A real good ol' boys and girls club. They made money and they ran the place into the ground. Buildings were literally falling apart. They hired one of their buddies to be a groundskeeper, paid him thousands, bought him a new zero turn and he'd cut the grass once before the county fair. That was it. It was a suspicious miracle that after the county fair, members of the board had money in their pockets to take trips to places like Ireland. During the course of the year the old fair board would hold monthly meetings at supper clubs, treat themselves to a fancy meal and drinks - all on fair money. In the 90s when the fair had to buy some land to expand parking it was all well documented and deeds were properly recorded. Then a few years later when the husband and wife who ran the board were going to build a house in a corner of that land - voila, a land transfer was made and no notes were entered into the books and the Register of Deeds office shows a "zero" on the transfer price. Either the price was too low to record, or it was free. They were self dealing and it was easy when a lot of cash was coming in.

That did all change. Ultimately that old board got voted out and a new board came in. When the new board discovered how much money the fair was actually making - holy cow. Over the next few years buildings on the verge of condemnation were fixed and painted, some to the point they are now rented almost weekly for weddings and parties. Volunteers returned when they seen the place being fixed up. Utility hookups were added for campers. Just this last weekend a Bluegrass festival was hosted and the place was solid with tents and campers and it made money for the fairgrounds.

It has been several years of work to get it to where it is now but they still have their little battles they have to manage. There is no race track but there is a pulling track and that group will butt heads with the board, often times over money issues since they use that pulling track a few times during the year. There is a nice baseball/softball field and the booster club that puts on games and tournaments there often sees their group as the one that deserves a big piece of the pie. Time to butt heads again. Every individual group will get paternalistic about their part. It is human nature. But on the positive side there is no personal greed on this current board.

The long winded example I've given is to make a point. You need ethical people on those boards and everyone has to understand each others goals to make it work. They all have to be honest when it comes to the ledger and everyone has to understand the importance of how all aspects can work for the overall good of the facility when dealing with a fairgrounds.

[One Man Gang]

Glad we don’t have fairgrounds with race tracks in my area they only use em for drunks to ride the Ferris wheel and for kids and rednecks to chase goats, sheep and greased pigs. Every once and awhile naw hell it’s every year some ol hillbilly as$ gal will get in the greased pig contest and a fight break out amongst some bumpkins trying to catch her but at least we ain’t got a fairboard to f*** up the entertainment for all the local hicks.

[Rich Riedesel]

I'm not in the middle of anything going on at the fairgrounds, but will say that Ricky has shown real class with his statements so far. I'm a little familiar with some of the characters mentioned, and wouldn't be surprised to find some truth to rumors stated in this thread. I might get some inside info later this week, and will pass it on if confirmed.

[Raceready]

It is almost always a delicate relationship where a fairgrounds/fair board is involved with a race track, not just this one venue in particular.A fair board will often be looking at what can improve their overall facility and the successful operation of the racing part of the facility gets them seeing dollar signs if the track is a successful venue. Where the track promotion group sees their success and wants to continue that and improve upon that with a cooperation of investments into the track facility because they see that as what is working and that is their focus.The fair board sees good crowds, multiple shows, maybe special events and they think, oh great we can use the money the track is bringing in to (take your pick); fix up a barn, build a new building, build new bathrooms on the midway, lay some pavement down here and there, etc... If not managed correctly it can, and often does, lead to conflicts.I have some experience in my community with our fair and fair board. We used to have a bad fair board. A real good ol' boys and girls club. They made money and they ran the place into the ground. Buildings were literally falling apart. They hired one of their buddies to be a groundskeeper, paid him thousands, bought him a new zero turn and he'd cut the grass once before the county fair. That was it. It was a suspicious miracle that after the county fair, members of the board had money in their pockets to take trips to places like Ireland. During the course of the year the old fair board would hold monthly meetings at supper clubs, treat themselves to a fancy meal and drinks - all on fair money. In the 90s when the fair had to buy some land to expand parking it was all well documented and deeds were properly recorded. Then a few years later when the husband and wife who ran the board were going to build a house in a corner of that land - voila, a land transfer was made and no notes were entered into the books and the Register of Deeds office shows a "zero" on the transfer price. Either the price was too low to record, or it was free. They were self dealing and it was easy when a lot of cash was coming in.That did all change. Ultimately that old board got voted out and a new board came in. When the new board discovered how much money the fair was actually making - holy cow. Over the next few years buildings on the verge of condemnation were fixed and painted, some to the point they are now rented almost weekly for weddings and parties. Volunteers returned when they seen the place being fixed up. Utility hookups were added for campers. Just this last weekend a Bluegrass festival was hosted and the place was solid with tents and campers and it made money for the fairgrounds.It has been several years of work to get it to where it is now but they still have their little battles they have to manage. There is no race track but there is a pulling track and that group will butt heads with the board, often times over money issues since they use that pulling track a few times during the year. There is a nice baseball/softball field and the booster club that puts on games and tournaments there often sees their group as the one that deserves a big piece of the pie. Time to butt heads again. Every individual group will get paternalistic about their part. It is human nature. But on the positive side there is no personal greed on this current board.The long winded example I've given is to make a point. You need ethical people on those boards and everyone has to understand each others goals to make it work. They all have to be honest when it comes to the ledger and everyone has to understand the importance of how all aspects can work for the overall good of the facility when dealing with a fairgrounds.

This is so ' SPOT ON " that it needs to be sent to every race track that is being held hostage by a greedy and or demanding fair board

[Barbecueboy]

Not that any of the fair board folks seem to know or care about racing but if that place has seen its last race because of them then those idiots have killed one of the best tracks in the country……stand proud fools.

[Barbecueboy]

And ps, officer napoleons old lady probably gets lots of visits while he’s away at work being a douche…..it’s just a guess.

[Morgs153]

Almost always when I see a fairgrounds track operating on a weekly basis I think to myself, how long will a good thing last? A promotion group wants to come in and be successful and make money. That's totally understandable. Who's responsibility is it to pump money into the physical plant for the long term? Improvements to grandstands, concessions, bathrooms, new clay, etc.. It can be a tenuous relationship even when the right kind of people are involved. A stand alone track owner has flexibility to do what they want but an enormous investment usually is required. A track renter or leaser has to really hope they can be assured the landlord continues up-keeps and improvements and is dedicated to seeing racing continue into the future.

If an operator is able to get something on the order of a weekly rental fee, seasonal fee, or long term lease from a fair board you might do well on some weeks with good shows and good crowds and then you'll get hosed on bad crowds and rainouts. The board still expects the payment regardless. Then with that money, are they going to pump a good portion of it back into the track, or into the entire fairgrounds facility? We certainly don't see as many fairgrounds race tracks as we once did. But, there are some places that do still "get it". Knoxville is a fairgrounds track and the powers that be there certainly "get it".

This news at Davenport is bad news. Although I've never been there I watched almost every race I could on Flo from there and it was one of my favorites to view. Like most others, I thought the Kay family was really doing things right. I was saddened to read the news but they (the Kays) are staying very dignified in how the press release is worded and I wish them the best. I think some of the real truths of the matter are bound to come out.

[Dlmfan123]

I’m hearing the promoter at bedford is done after this year as well due to the fair board

[zyoung25]

https://twitter.com/CraigDollansky/status/1696544919400181772?t=uFrpySqwdS4EM5ZJNjJjqg&s=19

[SLlDlNG SIDEWAYS]

Davenport must have lost their azz's on that last race there.

[Dlmfan123]

https://twitter.com/CraigDollansky/s...5ZJNjJjqg&s=19

I think that’s a yearly event

[ftfiowa]

story today on Dirt on Dirt confirms it...a security guard caused the Kays to walk away

https://www.dirtondirt.com/story_12894.html

[Dirt Clod]

That's shameful on the Fairboard's part. Amazing what the Kay family has done, in addition to farming 5,000 acres! Bless them for their efforts for the racing community and fans.

[Buford.Justice]

This is too bad. This track has been really successful. Fairboards often destroy a race facility as they always seem to want more to lease their track to promoters. Promoters will avoid letting it known how many tickets they sell. I remember one time when an entire roll of tickets supposedly were claimed to be lost. I don't know if they had to eat the losses or not.

A race track only 4 miles from my home closed down for good as teh fairboard wanted too much for the promoter to profit or even go under. I could tell it was coming on the last night when a car crewman asked the promoter if he was sure it was rained out and he said yes. As it was a few drops of rain was all that happened and the rest of the night was just fine. But there were no more races. Another track about 60 mileas away was on a fairgounds and they raced a couple of seasons and shut down.

It's best to own your property if you want to have a racetrack most of the time. Promoters cause too many hands to pay.

I've seen a lot of promoters at my most local track, they always seem to get a new promoter as it's been an inside game for many years. Fairboard members seem to always get the leases.