Both houses of the Kentucky Legislature have approved a bill that would designate horses as livestock. Once signed by the governor, the new law would provide new benefits and legal consistency.
Kentucky equine-industry participants and supporters got the chance to emphasize the important impact horses have on the state and local economies during visits with state legislators on Wednesday's KEEP Day in Frankfort.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, through its involvement in the H-2B Workforce Coalition, has joined other organizations pushing to have the H-2B visa returning worker exemption reinstated in a continuing resolution.
In its first industry conference Oct. 18 in Lexington, the Kentucky Equine Education Project celebrated important progress the group helped make a reality while continuing to emphasize the importance of all breeds working together.
With the continued urbanization of the U.S., speakers at the Kentucky Equine Education Project conference Oct. 18 in Lexington said it's more important than ever for industry participants to reach out to the general public.
The Kentucky Equine Education Project will welcome horse industry leaders and policy makers from across the state to discuss ways to protect and promote the commonwealth's signature industry at the Equine Industry Conference Oct. 17-18 in Lexington.
The Kentucky Equine Education Project and Turfway Park March 14 said the Northern Kentucky track would rejoin the horse industry advocacy group and have a seat on the KEEP board of directors.
The Kentucky Equine Education Project is mobilizing support for House Bill 112, which will provide the same exemption from state sales tax on feed, supplies, and equipment that other agriculture animals receive.
For Kentucky horse breeding to achieve success with its 2016 legislative priority item, breeders and others need to become proactive within the legislative process, according to state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles.
The board of directors of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) has unanimously approved a resolution calling for equine tax equity for Kentucky's horse industry.
The Kentucky Equine Education Project said May 12 Fasig-Tipton, for the second year, will sponsor its grassroots funding program.
Joe Clabes has been appointed executive director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project, the organization's board of directors said April 27.
The speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives is preparing to push again for expanded gaming in the state when the General Assembly next meets in January 2016.
A new license plate option for Kentucky drivers, featuring a photo of the legendary Seattle Slew, has been unveiled by the Kentucky Equine Education Project Foundation.
Lobbyist Joe Clabes has been hired to assist the Kentucky Equine Education Project in the 2015 legislative session in Kentucky, the organization's board of directors announced Feb. 9.
The departure of the executive director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project is apparently related to changes in staffing and expenditures as it refocuses its efforts away from trying to get legalized casino gambling.
The Kentucky Equine Education Project's board is no longer supporting casino legislation in the Bluegrass state, but will support Instant Racing, a gaming form that has proven successful at two Kentucky tracks.
The Kentucky Equine Education Project has created the KEEP Foundation, which is designed to provide grants for equine organizations throughout the state.
A proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Kentucky General Assembly the power to authorize any and all forms of gambling has met with opposition from the Kentucky Equine Education Project.
Louisville attorney Bob Heleringer, who served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1980-2002, has been named executive director of the Kentucky Equine Education Project.
Patrick Neely, executive director of the Kentucky Equine Education Program, is leaving the post Oct. 18 to take a job in Michigan.
A survey released Sept. 6 on the Kentucky horse industry is unlikely to impact the issue of whether alternative gaming should be approved by the state legislature, according to a top-ranking state senator.
The Board of Directors of the Kentucky Equine Education Project has added five new members.
Keeneland has dropped out of the Kentucky Equine Education Project but intends to continue working with the organization and others to further Thoroughbred racing and breeding in the state.
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Incentive Fund had more than 8,000 mares registered by the Aug. 15 deadline, about the same number as last year.
Though the gambling amendment was defeated, there are signs of positive change in the Kentucky legislature. read blog
The Kentucky Equine Education Project announced Dec. 7 that it will host an online stallion season auction beginning Dec. 16. The auction will last until Dec. 22.
The Kentucky Equine Education Project and Corey Johnsen, the organization's new chairman, will host a telephone town hall meeting May 18 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
The Kentucky Equine Education Project board of directors elected Corey Johnsen March 29 to serve as its chairman of the board.
Brereton Jones, who has served as chairman of the Kentucky Equine Education Project since it was formed in May 2004, has resigned from his position.
A Kentucky circuit court judge has ruled draft regulations for Instant Racing "are a valid and lawful exercise" of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's statutory authority.
There may be growing sentiment in the Kentucky legislature to pass a measure authorizing a constitutional amendment on racetrack gaming, officials indicated after the Nov. 2 election.
It may take some time, but at some point the industry will get it right. Read Blog
The Kentucky Equine Education Project Feb. 12 reiterated its calls for immediate action from the Kentucky General Assembly to assist the horse industry in the state.
A poll indicating strong support for racetrack video lottery terminals -- and even stronger support for a constitutional amendment on the issue -- generated plenty of talk among Kentucky legislators Feb. 3.
While some horse racing officials in Georgia believe a resolution that would allow horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering has a good chance of being approved, others oppose the proposal in its current form.
Saying his bill for a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling in the state is gaining support from some members of the Kentucky horse industry, Republican Sen. Damon Thayer put action on the bill on hold Jan. 13.
As the Kentucky Equine Education Project vows to continue its legislative push for racetrack gaming, a state lawmaker plans to move forward with his plan for statewide and local option votes on gaming.
Following the June demise of expanded gambling in the legislature, representatives of Kentucky's horse industry vowed to take a more aggressive role in statehouse campaigns. The industry's involvement in a special state Senate election in eastern Kentucky Aug. 25 is proving the threat wasn't hollow.
With Ellis Park considering closing its doors, the Kentucky Equine Education Project is organizing a "Forever Ellis!" rally Aug. 22 at the racetrack as a way for horse industry enthusiasts to show their support for the nearly 90-year-old facility and the entire equine industry in the state.
After debate of nearly four hours June 19, the Kentucky House of Representatives approved a bill permitting video lottery terminals at racetracks. The vote was 52 in favor, 45 opposed with two abstentions.
Nearly a thousand people traveled to Kentucky's state capitol in Frankfort June 17 to rally for a cause they have stood behind for years: to boost the horse racing industry by way of expanded casino gaming.
As a special session of the Kentucky legislature convened to consider several issues, including legalization of video lottery terminals at racetracks, the Kentucky Equine Education Project released results of a poll showing 61% of registered voters favored alternative gaming at tracks.
The Kentucky Equine Education Project is organizing a rally June 17 in the Capitol Rotunda to drum up support for legislation that would financially assist the horse industry.
Jockey Calvin Borel, who has been in the spotlight over the last five weeks as a result of victories in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I), is assisting in the effort to obtain video lottery terminals at racetracks in Kentucky.
Democratic Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear announced June 4 that racetrack gaming would be included in the special legislative session that will focus on the state budget.
Richard Shapiro, former chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, has been hired as a consultant by the newly-formed California Horse Racing Alliance. Craig Fravel, the alliance's president and the executive vice-president of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, confirmed the hiring of Shapiro shortly after the group's formation in recent weeks.
The chairman of the Kentucky Equine Education Project said Feb. 18 he expects gaming-related legislation benefitting the Kentucky horse industry to pass -- but he's not sure when.
Veteran horseman John Quentin Thornbury died Sept. 8 in Lexington at 87. A Kentucky native, he owned Sunnyside Farm near Paris, Ky., with Dr. Robert Copelan.
The bipartisan Joint Subcommittee on Horse Farming, which meets periodically when the Kentucky General Assembly isn't in session, has made strides in educating lawmakers on the importance and scope of Kentucky's horse industry. And the challenges for the industry won't go away.
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