FLORENCE, Ky.
- In a state where burley tobacco is the king crop and more than 30 percent of the adult residents smoke, Turfway Park jumped into the 21st century by introducing a smoke-free environment at the thoroughbred race track.
When the track opened its holiday meet Sunday, smoking was prohibited on the fourth level of the five-story facility. This is the first time a Kentucky thoroughbred track has designated an entire smoke-free zone, and track officials say they think it is one of only a few in the United States.
''Isn't it wonderful?'' said Debbie Teepe, a former thoroughbred owner and longtime race fan who beamed as she looked around at other non-smokers placing bets. ''The management here has listened to us, and they are really trying.''
Turfway spokesman Robert Forbeck said track management was responding to the many non-smokers who had asked for something more than just a small no-smoking section in an area of the track that was used by smokers.
''At least half of all the complaints we have received in the past year or more have been about cigarette smoke and creating a smoke-free section of the track,'' he said.
Overall, the crowd at Turfway was light Sunday, due in no small part to the inclement weather. But the fourth level, including Blinkers Sports Bar, had at least 100 people placing bets and eating at any one time.
''This is 1997,'' said Ms. Teepe, an interior decorator who lives in Triple Crown in Boone County. ''There is no place you can go today without a smoke-free area. I love racing and I'm a big Turfway supporter, but there have been times when the smoke in some areas of the track was just too much. This is a great step forward.''
As she looked around at the first-day gathering, she voiced optimism that it would grow over the course of the winter and spring meets.
Greg Schmitz, the track general manager, said he also thought the response to the smoke-free section would grow.
''I think more race fans will come to appreciate the effort we've made to accommodate non-smokers,'' he said.
Ed Bebout, who drove from Batavia for the live racing at Turfway, was very happy with the smoke-free zone.
''It's the reason I'm up here,'' he said. ''I've come to the races here before and put up with the smoking, but I wouldn't bring my wife and family. Now I would be comfortable with my wife and kids joining me.''
