08/21/2026
Column by Editor Aaron Snyder for this weekend's edition:
Headline: Naysayers and 'neigh' sayers
Larry Lucas wasn’t riding or training a horse, but he was driven to win at Sandy Ridge.
Revolutionary Racing’s Chairman took all the skepticism, cynicism and criticism surrounding the casino and Quarter Horse race track over the last four years, and he funneled it all into a giant motivation tank.
Naysayers fueled the fire a bit, he said.
“So many people said, no, it’ll never happen,” Lucas said. “… We’re kinda the guy that put the flagpole in the ground. Everybody said, ‘you’re crazy,’ and then it all comes together.”
Revolutionary Racing partnered with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on the initial $55 million project. In all, Lucas said the capital investment has eclipsed $100 million.
The governor’s office, local legislative members and Boyd County officials banded together to work with Revolutionary Racing to push to fruition. First came the casino, and now the race track is active. You might even say it’s full of “neigh” sayers — as in, horses — so where are the naysayers now?
Oh, don’t fret. They’re still out there — mainly just wading in the social media cesspool lurking for an opportunity to pollute any piece of positive news.
Some people just bask in negativity. They live for it. They breathe, eat and sleep it.
As my father has said multiple times over the years, “they’d complain about the seating arrangements at the Last Supper.”
As I saw people point out all that they didn’t like about Quarter Horse racing in Boyd County, I began thinking of all the rejuvenation this area has experienced over the last few years.
Sure, there’s no major industry such as AK Steel and Ashland Oil or even another hospital to replace Our Lady of Bellefonte, but couldn’t these positive developments help attract a major employer or multiple additional opportunities? I’d sure like to think so.
Skepticism is a natural and healthy reaction when any new, shiny thing is announced as if it’s going to save the local economy. Northeast Kentucky was battered, beaten, bruised and burned by Braidy Industries and has been a victim of false hope too many times.
It’s good to ask tough questions, do thorough research, file open records requests and provide public comment at local government meetings. Sometimes when doing this examination of factual information, you do expose corruption. So be it. Life isn’t all lollipops and rainbows.
But when real hope arrives, why does there seem to be in inclination to concoct conspiracies, magnify minor blemishes and ruthlessly sully reputations behind an anonymous facade while fabricating “facts” or twisting truth?
Misery has a mob these days, especially on social media. But here’s a word of warning: It may seem fashionable to “rage bait” but if you catch the wrong fish, it could come back to bite you.
So, let’s enjoy the fact that Camp Landing Entertainment District, Sandy’s Gaming and now Sandy Ridge racing are all entertainment options in Boyd County.
The sports complex is coming next … and, boy, that’s prompted its fair share of negative reactions, too. Hey, that’s fine if you disagree with it, but I personally think it will provide another boost to northeast Kentucky. With two young athletes in the house, I’ve seen first-hand proof of it elsewhere.
Plenty of other areas have happily accepted my hard-earned dollars over the years. It will be nice for families to spend that money right here and invest in their own back yard, while reaping benefits from building something to attract visitors to Boyd County, too.
Reach AARON SNYDER at [email protected] or (606) 326-2664.
