track went back to flat racing only the following year, but resumed steeplechases again in 2008. Kentucky Downs hosts a limited live racing meet each year. The 2008 meet features the Kentucky Cup Turf Festival (run one week after the Kentucky Cup race card at Turfway Park) and featuring the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Turf. During the rest of the year, the track functions basically as an off-track parimutuel betting site, offering simulcast wagering on most of the country's top tracks. It draws patrons largely from the nearby Nashville, Tennessee market, centered approximately 40 miles (64 km) to the south, where the only other legal gambling options are the Tennessee Lottery and riverboat casinos more than two hours away. With legislation to allow casino gaming at racetracks being a topic of frequent political debate in Kentucky (particularly in the 2007 gubernatorial campaign), Kentucky Downs stands to benefit as the closest casino to metro Nashville, should casinos become legalized. In March 2007, a partnership led by investors Corey Johnsen and Ray Reid agreed to purchase 85% interest in the track. Johnsen had been president of Lone Star Park and Reid runs a private investment and banking firm. The new partnership will be managed by Reid and Johnsen. Churchill Downs, Turfway Park and the other minority investors retain a 5% share in the track. The transaction was completed on August 6, 2007. On September 1, 2011, Kentucky Downs introduced Instant Racing, a hybrid between slot machines and parimutuel wagering, where bettors play at a terminal using historical racing data and video. A request by the Family Foundation of Kentucky to halt the use of the games, which the foundation argued were illegal slot machines, was denied by the state appeals court on October 7, 2011. The 2012 live racing meet was held on September 8, 10, 12, 15 and 19. Racing was also scheduled on September 17, but was cancelled due to heavy rain and soft track. Owner Corey Johnsen indicated in September 2012 that he intended to file for eight racing dates for 2013 (three in late April and five in September). Stakes events The following important events held at Kentucky Downs.Grade IIKentucky Turf Cup Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint StakesGrade IIIDueling Grounds Derby Franklin-Simpson Stakes Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes Mint MillionListed''' Dueling Grounds Oaks Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint Kentucky Downs