During a presentation to members of the horse industry at the Kentucky Horse Park Oct. 20, Kentucky Senate President David Williams and Sen. Damon Thayer, both Republicans, proposed constitutional amendments regarding the future of the state's horse industry.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer announced that a Breeders' Cup Incentive package had been secured as part of the economic development incentive Package that was passed by the House and Senate in Frankfort June 24.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer, who sponsored the legislation that resulted in Kentucky's Breeders' Incentive Fund, has inquired about another method of garnering funds for the state's Thoroughbred industry.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Economic conditions have led the operators of Pinnacle Race Course in Michigan to put some expansion plans on hold, but the track's inaugural meet in 2008 exceeded expectations, officials said.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Damon Thayer, who owns Thayer Communications & Consulting and is a Kentucky senator, has officially been named general consultant/adviser for Pinnacle Race Course, the new Michigan racetrack scheduled to open July 18.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Republican Sen. Damon Thayer announced Feb. 8 award amounts for the 2007 Kentucky Breeders' Incentive Fund.
Friday, February 08, 2008
The first two-day World Championships has created opportunities and challenges for Breeders' Cup and first-time host Monmouth Park.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Even though preliminary recommendations on self-regulation for the auction industry have been released by the Sales Integrity Task Force, the Kentucky legislature still has several months before it will act on them.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
State legislators hearing the second report by the Sales Integrity Task Force on transparency issues in the Kentucky equine auction industry expressed mixed opinions about the group's progress during a public meeting held Sept. 13 in the Lexington Room at Keeneland Race Course.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
To help ensure the proper design and execution of temporary facilities such as bleachers, tents, mutuels, and concessions, Monmouth Park hired the well-known firm HOK Sport, which in turn also brought onboard M Group Scenic Studios, to prepare for the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Damon Thayer, vice president of Breeders' Cup event management and an employee since 1999, has taken a consultant's position with Breeders' Cup Ltd.,
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Breeders' Cup officials visited Monmouth Park in New Jersey for a tour Nov. 28, but they said it wasn't because the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority-operated racetrack was in danger of losing the 2007 Breeders' Cup World Championships as published reports had suggested.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
The Breeders' Cup board of directors has made no decision on limiting the racetracks that could be considered as future host sites for the World Championships, but during an Oct. 31 luncheon in Louisville, Ky., officials couldn't say enough about having the event at Churchill Downs.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Rev. Ed Donally is standing outside Barn 36 with an armful of new halters, watching as Lava Man cools out from his morning gallop. Donally, with the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, is in from California to coordinate the White Horse Award Luncheon.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
As several of his students hot-walked horses in a barn at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington Oct. 16, Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron unveiled the North American Racing Academy, the first and only national jockey training academy in the United States.
Monday, October 16, 2006
The short length of the 2007 General Assembly session in Kentucky may be the biggest hurdle tax relief for the horse industry will face. Additionally, there is a gubernatorial election, and during off year sessions, tax issues must be passed with a two-thirds supermajority.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Just days before the Run for the Roses, Gov. Ernie Fletcher made a trip to Churchill Downs to present the first Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund check. The recipients were Mike and Jeanne Owens, owners of Kentucky-bred Sinister Minister, winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) April 15.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
The 2007-08 operating budget for the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority will be a little lighter after 40% of its funding was removed by the state General Assembly.
Monday, April 17, 2006
In the warmth of a sunny spring morning March 29 in Georgetown, Ky., Kentucky Horse Park executive director John Nicholson and Georgetown College president William Crouch cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the Equine Scholars Center, a recently acquired facility for the college's Equine Scholar Program.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
After much debate and discussion, the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority approved the structure of a five-tier Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund Nov. 21. The program will reward breeders of Kentucky-breds that win in maiden special weight, allowance, and stakes company, both in-state and nationally.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Republican state Sen. Damon Thayer said he will be working in the next two months on legislation for the 2006 Kentucky General Assembly that would exempt horse feed and other supplies from state sales and use taxes.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
A Kentucky Horse Racing Authority subcommittee has proposed a state, national, and bonus component for the state's new breeders incentive program based on mare residency.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
An economic study supports a nationwide/international breeders incentive program that would reward breeders of Kentucky-breds that win a maiden special weight race anywhere in the nation or world.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Three Kentucky horse industry groups have agreed to finance an economic impact study to help determine how a new state breeders incentive fun should be crafted.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
What to do with an estimated $12 million in Kentucky Breeders' Incentives money was the topic of discussion during a May 18 meeting of Central Kentucky breeders at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's Newtown Paddocks near Lexington.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Breeders' Cup Limited, along with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, has released the official event logo for the 22nd Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, to be held Oct. 29 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
With representatives of the Kentucky Equine Education Project on hand, a new incentive program for all breeds was signed into law by Gov. Ernie Fletcher March 18.
Friday, March 18, 2005
By Ray Paulick -- The horse industry now has a strong voice in Frankfort that will be heard.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has altered the roles of several staff members to reflect priorities for 2005 as well as its long-term strategy, commissioner D.G. Van Clief Jr. said in a Dec. 20 release. The changes take effect Jan. 1.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer, also an executive with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup, has been appointed Senate chairman of the state Task Force on Economic Development.
Thursday, July 22, 2004
By Dan Liebman -- Fletcher was very polished in congratulating Smarty Jones' owners, trainer, and jockey. But his ears had to be ringing from Churchill CEO Tom Meeker's comment that, "The sun wasn't shining too bright in Kentucky today but I have a slight feeling it was shining in Pennsylvania."
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
A bloodstock agent, a trainer, and an auction company representative told Kentucky legislators during a Nov.12 subcommittee hearing at the state capitol that the 6% sales tax charged to Kentucky residents on horse purchases should be repealed and that purses distributed at Kentucky racetracks needs to grow along with other states if Kentucky expects to remain the central point of the Thoroughbred industry.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
The 2003 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships was a record-setter in terms of handle, both on track at Santa Anita Park and throughout the world via simulcasting. Meanwhile, despite several longshots, there was one winning ticket worth more than $2.6 million in the Breeders' Cup Ultra Pick 6.
Saturday, October 25, 2003
Breeders' Cup Limited and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association released the official event logo for the 21st Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004 at Lone Star Park in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie, Tex.
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
News and information: Thayer seeks public office... Churchill Downs completes deal with City of Louisville over racetrack property... Magna, Youbet.com enter into agreement.
Thursday, December 26, 2002
Arlington Park has put 500 additional seats for the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on sale to the public. The seats were previously set aside as part of the allotment for large groups or sponsors, according to Breeders' Cup spokesman Damon Thayer.
Friday, October 04, 2002
Damon Thayer, vice president of Breeders' Cup and event marketing for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, has filed a letter of intent with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance as a "future year candidate" for Kentucky Senate District 17.
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
Arlington Park has several thousand seats still available for the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships despite an early sales push and good demand.
Sunday, June 23, 2002
Jim Gluckson, who has a longtime affiliation with the Breeders' Cup through other companies, has joined the staff of the combined National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup as director of event communications. He will be based in New York.
Thursday, January 03, 2002
National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup officials said Thursday the new "Great State Challenge" program has the potential to open up many new sponsorship opportunities for horse racing. The program, which will feature the top state-breds in the country, will be held sometime in the last three months of 2002.
Thursday, October 11, 2001
Keith Chamblin has been promoted to senior vice president -- marketing and industry relations for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the organization said Thursday. In addition, Ben Haggin was promoted to vice president -- member relations, and the duties of Damon Thayer, now vice president -- Breeders' Cup and event marketing.
Thursday, August 16, 2001
Breeders' Cup officials visited Arlington Park Tuesday to examine the facility as possible host site for the 2002 Breeders' Cup championship day.
Wednesday, May 23, 2001
