Q&A with Hayley Amoss from the Soon-to-Open Louisville Thoroughbred Society – America’s Best Racing
Beginning in August, horse racing fans, bettors and stakeholders will have a new gathering place to share their love for the sport. The Louisville Thoroughbred Society (LTS) is scheduled to open its doors on Main Street in Louisville, just a 15-minute drive up the road from Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.
The new establishment is a members-only club that’s largely focused on connecting racing enthusiasts and attracting younger participants to the sport. To learn more about LTS and its imminent launch, ABR spoke with club’s Director of Membership, Hayley Amoss.
What exactly is the Louisville Thoroughbred Society?
The Louisville Thoroughbred Society is a private, members-only club founded on the principle to promote the Thoroughbred industry as a whole.
Are there any other clubs or venues that you could compare it to?
The club was inspired by the Thoroughbred Club of America in Lexington, but has its own Louisville twist to promote a more urban vibe and promote the local bourbon industry.
What makes LTS unique or different from any other membership clubs inside or outside of racing?
The club has unique offerings that are catered to the horse industry, the most prominent being the on-site pari-mutuel wagering that will be conducted through Churchill Downs. We will offer simulcasting of horse racing from around the country and world, as well as offer sports viewing. In addition, we have a custom-built cigar humidor, private cigar lockers and a Cuban-themed smoking pavilion for our members and guests to enjoy their cigar and a bourbon from our specialty bourbon bar after a big win (or loss).
Tell us more about the infrastructure you’ve set up for members who want to hang out and play the races.
We will have 12 pari-mutuel wagering machines on site. Guests will also be able to cash in on their winning bets on-site, so they can go home with their winnings or buy a celebratory round of drinks.
When will LTS open and what can people expect to find inside?
We will open in August, just in time for all the Kentucky Derby festivities we have planned for the club! The club has multiple rooms for entertainment and racing simulcasting, as well as an expansive outdoor terrace. My personal favorite is the Library for its privacy in an area where you can host intimate business meetings, but we also have a main area with over 20 TVs and a more intimate bourbon bar.
After Kentucky Derby weekend, will LTS be open all week, every week?
The LTS will feature a dining room area with adjacent outdoor dining space. Open Wednesday through Sunday, we will feature an executive-style lunch and evenings will include a tapas and small bites menu. The current plans are to offer a brunch service on Sundays.
We know that you’d like to attract a younger clientele to the LTS. Tell us why that it is and what you plan on doing to those ends?
We want to introduce the sport of horse racing and the industry to younger members and their guests to grow the sport. By offering an approachable Young Professional membership, we offer a social space for our younger audience that gives them an opportunity to delve further in the industry. In addition to offering monthly networking events, we will also host bourbon tastings, handicapping seminars, live-music events and parties.
Who conceived of LTS and how did it all come together?
The LTS initial concept was developed by three founding members and later expanded to a group of 30 investor members. The founding members were inspired by the concept and layout of the TCA in Lexington and wanted to expand that kind of facility to the Louisville area, home to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby.
Are members allowed to bring guests?
Yes, members can bring a guest up to 6 times in a calendar year. On that individual’s sixth visit to the club, we’ll go ahead and ask them to explore our membership opportunities to join the club.
What’s the process for becoming a member?
You can become a member online, by filling out a membership portfolio and paying your initiation fee. We are currently hosting an inaugural promotion rate for those who sign up this summer, which offers a discounted initiation fee for all memberships. If you would like to tour the space or ask specific questions regarding memberships, you can reach out to me at hayley@ltsociety.com.