Kentucky Helmet Rule to Remain for Now

A decision by the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority Monday to temporarily suspend a state rule requiring jockeys to wear a specific type of helmet will not immediately go into effect.

Jockeys in Kentucky will still be required to wear the "Lexington" helmet because the authority must first pass an amendment to the regulation, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.

Jockeys at Monday's authority meeting expressed concern over the safety of the required helmet. The authority voted unanimously to suspend the rule until further research was conducted.

Mark York, deputy secretary for the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, which oversees the authority, said an emergency administrative regulation will be filed to speed up the process. He said he did not know when the change would ultimately take effect.