Questioning a number of actions by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in awarding a standardbred license in the Oak Grove area to a partnership of Churchill Downs Inc. and Keeneland, Kentucky Downs has appealed the regulator’s decision to Franklin Circuit Court.

In a Jan. 4 filing, Kentucky Downs asked the court to void a commission decision in late 2018 to award WKY Development (CDI-Keeneland) a license to conduct standardbred racing and offer historical racing games.

Kentucky Downs, which has operated in Simpson County since 1990, contends the new track would negatively impact its historical racing operations.

The commission’s Nov. 16 vote to award the license followed an Oct. 30 meeting that saw a 7-5 vote to defer the decision. The commission had considered proposals from WKY Development, Kentucky Downs and Caesars Entertainment.

At the November meeting, WKY Development presented a plan that would see $150 million put toward a track, entertainment center, equestrian center and hotel.

Kentucky Downs was purchased in November by a group that includes Ron Winchell of Lexington’s Winchell Thoroughbreds, owner of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner.