Democrat Steve Beshear, who supports a referendum on casino gambling and made it part of his campaign, easily won the race for governor of Kentucky in the Nov. 6 election.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007Two Kentucky legislators are asking why the horse industry, which annually contributes $4 billion to the state's economy, won't have broad representation at an upcoming agriculture summit.
Sunday, March 11, 2007A handle and tax information system was unanimously endorsed by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund and will be recommended to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority at its March meeting, it was decided Feb. 28. Funds for the software will most likely come out of the $1.2 million Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher has recommended the state legislature approve in additional funding for the authority.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007More than $12 million will be awarded to Thoroughbred breeders through the Kentucky Breeders' Incentive Fund.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007The Jockeys' Guild has launched a federal and state legislative agenda for 2007 aimed at improving pay and other benefits for riders.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007The terms of three Kentucky Horse Racing Authority board members have expired and their successors were announced at the organization's monthly meeting Nov. 20 at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Monday, November 20, 2006Tax relief for the horse industry, not racetrack gaming, will be the focus of the Kentucky Equine Education Project during the 2007 General Assembly session, according to the chairman of the organization.
Thursday, October 05, 2006Gov. Ernie Fletcher appointed Lisa Underwood as executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority (KHRA). Underwood succeeds Jim Gallagher, who stepped down Oct. 1 after directing the agency for two years.
Monday, October 02, 2006LaJuana S. Wilcher, secretary of the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, which oversees the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, announced her resignation Sept. 7. The resignation is effective Sept. 30.
Thursday, September 07, 2006Gov. Ernie Fletcher has vetoed the legislature's elimination of an operating fee paid to the KHRA by the state's racetracks, but it won't have an impact on funds expected by the authority this year.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006A $13.5-million appropriation for an expansion of the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center in Lexington is among the budget line items vetoed by Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006Legislation designed to protect horse buyers and to prevent dual agency in the sale of horses in Kentucky was singed into law March 28 by Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006Legislation to authorize workers' compensation insurance for jockeys appears to have stalled in the Kentucky General Assembly and probably won't be voted on during the current session, which is nearing an end.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006After 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, 2005The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority on Nov. 14 gave unanimous approval to revised medication rules that had been the subject of controversy when implemented under an emergency order signed in August by Gov. Ernie Fletcher.
Monday, November 14, 2005A committee established by Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher to come up with a recommendation on a jockey insurance plan agreed Thursday on a workers' compensation policy to be funded evenly between racetracks, owners, and jockeys.
Thursday, September 01, 2005A lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association over the move to stricter race-day medication rules has led a legislative subcommittee that has tackled the issue to back away--at least for now.
Friday, August 26, 2005The Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association could file a lawsuit to prevent implementation of a new race-day medication policy in the state.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher signed emergency regulations Aug. 19 that will limit race-day equine medication on race day effective Sept. 7. The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority approved the regulations only four days earlier.
Friday, August 19, 2005The Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has asked Gov. Ernie Fletcher to authorize a "full review" before any changes are made to the state's equine race-day medication policy.
Thursday, August 04, 2005Three 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, 2005Kentucky's blue ribbon panel on jockey compensation insurance formed subcommittees Wednesday to explore two different routes for jockey insurance coverage: a worker's compensation model and an accident health policy.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005Dr. Gary Wilson, a Winchester, Ky., veterinarian, has been named chief veterinarian for the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.
Friday, July 15, 2005A governor-appointed panel to study and resolve jockey insurance issues in Kentucky met for the first time June 27 to begin work on a statewide workers' compensation recommendation for lawmakers.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher reiterated his view of horse racing and breeding in the state April 21 and acknowledged the challenges, including in-state and out-of-state competition from other forms of gambling.
Thursday, April 21, 2005The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders sent a letter to Gov. Ernie Fletcher April 8 requesting a state investigation regarding the equine bacterial disease strangles and its recent spread from Kentucky to Florida and then back.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005With 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, 2005A tax modernization plan that includes breed development provisions was approved by the Kentucky House and Senate March 8 and now goes to Gov. Ernie Fletcher for his signature.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005A proposal to create breeders' incentive funds and a modification of the tax on yearlings and 2-year-olds was slated for passage March 8 as part Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher's tax modernization and budget package.
Monday, March 07, 2005Proposals to create breed development programs and modify a tax on the sale of yearlings and 2-year-olds remained intact when the Kentucky House of Representatives approved Gov. Ernie Fletcher's tax modernization plan Feb. 18.
Monday, February 21, 2005The Kentucky Equine Education Project's position on racetrack gaming will hinge on whether its board of directors believes such a pursuit is in the best interest of Kentucky residents, a KEEP official said Feb. 5 during a meeting with members of the media at Turfway Park.
Monday, February 07, 2005The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, in a race against the legislative clock, moved Feb. 2 to submit recommendations to Gov. Ernie Fletcher for creation of a workers' compensation fund that would cover jockeys and exercise riders at racetracks and some training facilities.
Thursday, February 03, 2005A tax modernization plan unveiled by Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher during his "state of the commonwealth" address Tuesday night includes provisions for breed development programs for the horse industry.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005Language that would authorize two breed development funds and eliminate a tax on the sale of yearlings and 2-year-olds in Kentucky has been delivered to Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher for possible inclusion in a tax modernization plan that could be unveiled in early February.
Friday, January 21, 2005Gov. Ernie Fletcher announced July 8 that Kentucky, on behalf of the United States, will submit a formal bid to the International Equestrian Federation to host the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
Thursday, July 08, 2004The results of an audit into operations of the old Kentucky Racing Commission will be released June 22 at the state capitol in Frankfort.
Friday, June 18, 2004The University of Kentucky's equine drug research program, funded by pari-mutuel handle under the auspices of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, apparently has been suspended indefinitely.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004An amendment to require the new 13-member Kentucky Horse Racing Authority to have no more than seven members of the same political party isn't expected to thwart Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher's plans, a state senator said March 25.
Thursday, March 25, 2004Legislation to establish the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority and move it under the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet was passed by the state Senate Feb. 24 and sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, created in early January by Gov. Ernie Fletcher, will meet for the first time Feb. 5.
Saturday, January 31, 2004Though the Kentucky Racing Commission has been abolished and replaced by the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council apparently remains in place--but not necessarily intact.
Wednesday, January 07, 2004The new Kentucky Horse Racing Authority includes several individuals with ties to the Thoroughbred industry. The authority replaces the Kentucky Racing Commission, which was abolished Jan. 6 by Gov. Ernie Fletcher.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004With the 2004 Kentucky General Assembly session set to get under way Jan. 6, the state's racing and breeding industry, which has devised legislation to authorize a constitutional amendment on racetrack casinos, is working to line up sponsors. Legislative leaders, however, continue to downplay the chances of passage of any bill to expand gambling.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004Republicans have expressed dismay with Gov. Paul Patton's reappointment of eight members and appointment of three new ones to the Kentucky Racing Commission in the final month of his term, and they have called on the commissioners to resign. All but one of the terms expired, some several years ago.
Monday, November 17, 2003
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