The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted Oct. 27 to recommend revised regulations designed to protect non-race breeds that participate in the multi-breed incentive fund authorized by the state legislature.
Under the new rules, no one who violates the federal Horse Protection Act would receive an incentive payment from the Kentucky Horse Breeders’ Incentive Fund. The fund provides payments to encourage breeders to stable their horses in Kentucky.
The Horse Protection Act is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Violations of the act include the practice of “soring,” in which show horses are deliberately injured to compel them to step higher.
The revised regulations would require the 11 association breeds to certify that none of its members has been cited for violation of the Horse Protection Act. Any member that appears on a list of violators would be ineligible for funds.
“With this action, the KHRC has again demonstrated its commitment to the humane treatment of horses,” KHRC executive director Lisa Underwood said in a statement. “The commission clearly recognized that soring is an inhumane practice that should not be tolerated or rewarded.”
The Kentucky Horse Breeders’ Incentive Fund will be accept applications for the next three-year period from Nov. 1-Dec. 31. Non-racing breeds get a small share of the revenue; Thoroughbreds get the majority of it, followed by Standardbreds and Quarter Horses, all of which race in the state.
