Kentucky's horse industry has been blessed in recent years to have friends from both political parties in Washington, D.C., and the state capitol in Frankfort.
Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, has looked out for the industry's best interests, especially on tax matters, and he was critically important in getting the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act passed in 2020.
Another Kentucky legislator, Republican Congressman Andy Barr, was co-sponsor of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Barr also has served as co-chair of the Congressional Horse Caucus. He is a good friend to racing.
In Frankfort, Speaker of the House Rep. David Osborne and Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer – both Republicans – have been personally involved in the horse business as owners or industry professionals and have helped shape legislation extremely beneficial to the industry.
Kentucky's Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has demonstrated an ability to work with the Republican legislature on matters of great importance to horse owners and breeders.
Since taking office in 2019, Beshear has helped strengthen Kentucky's standing as not only the Thoroughbred breeding capital of the world, but a powerful racing state with a year-round circuit offering tremendous purses and financial incentives to race Kentucky-breds.
Among other things, during the Beshear administration, Historical Horse Racing legislation has passed into law confirming the legality of this form of gambling. Purse revenue from HHR has made Kentucky the envy of the racing world.
Beshear issued the ninth and final horse racing license in 2022 to Revolutionary Racing for the state's only Quarter Horse track, equestrian center, and HHR gaming facility in Eastern Kentucky.
The state has seen tourism dollars soar, in part because of new gaming facilities in Bowling Green, the Cumberland Run harness track in Corbin, and a gaming facility in Williamsburg, among other additions. For Standardbred horsemen, a strong circuit in Kentucky is being developed.
Keeneland recently announced a major investment in a permanent paddock building and other improvements, Turfway Park has been rebuilt with an emphasis on HHR gaming, and in nearby Newport a separate HHR gaming facility has been completed.
Sports wagering also came to Kentucky during Beshear's first term as governor, with seven companies licensed through racetracks.
All of these expansions and improvements are padding Kentucky purse accounts. That, in turn, protects the investment of Kentucky breeders.
Kentuckians go to the polls on Tuesday to vote for governor. Considering how much better off Kentucky's horse industry is today compared to when he took office four years ago, Beshear deserves the support and votes of those engaged in racing and breeding – no matter what political party they may belong to.
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