gov. andy beshear | Horse Racing Free Tips

Kentucky HBPA Donates To Governor’s Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund

The Kentucky HBPA, on behalf of its member owners and trainers at the state's five Thoroughbred tracks, is donating $25,000 to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund set up by Governor Andy Beshear's office.

The fund is assisting those impacted by the devastating tornadoes that ripped through eight southwestern Kentucky counties Dec. 11-12, killing at least 77 people and demolishing entire towns.

“Our mission since inception has been helping those in need,” said Rick Hiles, President of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association. “Our motto is 'horsemen helping horsemen,' but we're also Kentuckians helping Kentuckians. It's just hard to fathom the extent of the needs facing the tens of thousands of people whose world has been upended.”

KHBPA Vice President Frank L. Jones Jr. said that while there are numerous worthy fund-raising campaigns and programs doing great work, the HBPA board felt the organization's contribution would reach the farthest through the state's fund.

“The Governor and First Lady's initiatives give everybody an avenue to go forward with contributions that will be put to the best use throughout the region, with 100 percent of donations going to assist our fellow Kentuckians,” Jones said. “That includes the many affected children and teenagers, who have a real champion in First Lady Britainy Beshear, including her overwhelmingly successful toy drive.

“Our Kentucky HBPA members are proud to be even a small part of the relief and recovery efforts.”

HBPA members are encouraged to donate or volunteer for the overall relief effort. Donations to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund can be made at https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/Finance/WKYRelief.

Kentucky HBPA board member Buff Bradley spent Wednesday in Bremen in Muhlenberg County helping a cattle farmer cut trees off the damaged fencing so it could be replaced and clearing the considerable debris from hay fields. Bremen (2020 census population 172) suffered 11 deaths, including a 5-month-old baby.

“You get there and everything is so devastating and so sad,” said Bradley, who joined the work team assembled by his longtime friend, Franklin County extension agent Keenan Bishop. “Every time you drive a few feet farther, you think, 'How did anybody live there?' It was so touching and sad. But it kind of restored my faith in humanity. My buddy counted 11 vehicles that came by to offer us food and drinks; they were just driving up and down these rural roads. The sheriff stopped by. It was Democrats and Republicans; everybody came together. Two different guys stopped and said, 'Can we help?' They started sawing and helping us drag that stuff off the fence. They didn't even know who they were helping.

“The farmer probably was in his mid 30s or 40. He just had his head down — his whole livelihood was out there. When we left, he had his head a little higher. Pictures don't do it justice, and you're thankful you could help. You'd see a family out in front of their house, and they have a wagon with all their belongings in it. When you see how much everybody is doing, it's pretty cool: some good out of all the bad that happened. My buddy and I were in tears reflecting about it on the drive home.”

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Alan Leavitt Removed From Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Over Sexual Harrassment Allegations

Harness Racing Hall of Famer Alan Leavitt has been removed from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission over allegations of sexual harassment, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. The 85-year-old was removed via an executive order from Gov. Andy Beshear issued on July 16.

Amy Cubbage, Beshear's general counsel, told the Herald-Leader: “There is a standard of conduct and his actions clearly violate those standards and necessitated removal.”

Cubbage cited “unwanted and unacceptable statements and conduct” by Leavitt toward an employee of the commission.

Benjamin Long, general counsel of the state Public Protection Cabinet, sent Leavitt “at least” three emails directing him to cease communications with the employee, and directing him to view a sexual harassment training video. Commission chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz also called Leavitt and told him to cease contacting the employee. Leavitt did not complete the training, and claimed ignorance of the communication directives when speaking to the employee in person.

Leavitt shared his emails to the commission employee with the Herald-Leader, and claims the harassment allegations stem “from my stand against the actions the commission is taking re the new horseman's organization.

“I have also objected to being shunted aside as the chairman of the sire stakes advisory committee. Those are the real reasons you are cooking up these phony charges. If you want to go further with this harassment, then I suggest we all sit down with Gov. Beshear and let him hear about all this.”

Leavitt said he was “happy to drop this whole matter here and now if you are, but I'm not taking any training course in avoiding sexual harassment. As a graduate of Andover and Harvard, I am well aware of what it is, and I would be going against every moral precept I learned there if I were to ever engage in something so vile.”

Leavitt is the president of the Kentucky Standardbred Breeders Association and of Walnut Hall Ltd.

Read more at the Lexington Herald-Leader.

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African American Contributions To Horse Racing Recognized Ahead Of Kentucky Derby 147

On Monday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a proclamation naming April 25 – May 1 Ed Brown Society Week in the commonwealth, recognizing African Americans' contributions to horse racing ahead of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby.

“In the 1800s and early 1900s, the majority of jockeys were African Americans. But, despite their centuries of contributions, after World War I, African Americans were pushed out of the sport,” said Gov. Beshear. “I am proud to recognize the Ed Brown Society, an organization helping right this wrong by providing mentorship to the next generation of African American Kentuckians in the horseracing industry.”

The Ed Brown Society is named after Edward D. Brown, who was born into slavery in Lexington in 1850, but through his tenacity and love of the sport developed into one of the most accomplished African American horsemen in the history of Thoroughbred racing.

Brown was sold at age seven to a proprietor of the horse farm Woodburn Stud in Woodford County. Brown had a small boyhood stature, but gained a vast knowledge of horses, which afforded him the opportunity to become a jockey in his early teens.

At 14, Brown won his first race on a horse named Asteroid. A year later, Brown was emancipated. He continued to work at Woodburn Stud until the proprietor's death in 1867. Afterwards, Brown built his career as a top jockey and trainer until he saved enough money to establish his own racing stable, where he owned and trained a number of stakes winners.

Brown's most distinguished career highlights include two standout victories: He rode Kingfisher to win the fourth running of the Belmont Stakes in 1870, and led Baden-Baden as a trainer in 1877 to win the third running of the Kentucky Derby.

Brown's important role in thoroughbred racing was confirmed with his 1984 induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

The Ed Brown Society was recently established to celebrate the rich history of African Americans in the equine industry as well as to create opportunities for young African American Kentuckians.

“At the Ed Brown Society, in our past, we want to acknowledge and educate about the wonderful history of African Americans in horse racing in our great state,” said Ray Daniels, chief executive officer of Equity Solutions Group and president of the Ed Brown Society. “In the present day, we want to highlight the great jobs and opportunities in the equine industry. We've been successful in guiding 30 African Americans into horse ownership in the past few years. And the future for us is to educate young students to make these opportunities in the industry a reality.”

The society aims to increase diversity in thoroughbred racing and its support professions, helping more people pursue a career they are passionate about, and at the same time, helping the equine industry reach its full potential. For example, as of 2018, African Americans comprised 13.4% of the U.S. population, but made up only 1.7% of veterinary employment, a statistic the society wants to help improve.

Through partnerships with industry stakeholders and educational institutions, the Ed Brown Society has the opportunity to ensure the horseracing industry is well-positioned culturally and economically to create a stronger, more diverse pipeline of talent for the future.

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Kentucky Commission Approves New Conditions For HHR, Facility For Kentucky Downs Expansion As Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature

After the passage of Senate Bill 120 last week by the Kentucky House of Representatives, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission breathed a sigh of relief that historical horse racing (HHR) would become part of the state's legal definition of permitted gambling. At Tuesday's commission meeting, the body began dealing with the next steps for HHR in the state.

SB120 has not yet been signed by Gov. Andy Beshear, only because the state senate recessed before forwarding it on to the governor's office. Once the body reconvenes, Beshear will sign the bill. The governor appeared via video conferencing at the start of Tuesday's meeting to assure commission members he was looking forward to signing the legislation. His signature is expected sometime next week.

Meanwhile, the commission unanimously approved several rule language changes clarifying language related to HHR so it will be in compliance with SB 120. It approved a set of conditions for facilities to conduct HHR in 2021, which among other things will require operators of HHR to present written reports from an independent testing laboratory confirming that the machines are in compliance with state code and constitute parimutuel wagering. The commission must approve the number of terminals, game themes, facility layout, security protocols, and hours of operation.

The association offering HHR will also have to create a initial seed pool to fund a wagering pool, and seed pools cannot be commingled without written authorization by the commission.

Further guidelines were approved to give commission executive director Marc Guilfoil the authority to approve some administrative changes that HHR operators may request. Some of those requests may later be ratified by the full commission depending upon statute, although more minor requests may be approved without the commission members' approval.

The commission also ratified Guilfoil's approval of a request from Kentucky Downs to expand its license to an extension facility in Bowling Green, Ky. The final location for the extension facility and a timeline for its opening have not yet been finalized by the track, but by state regulation it must be within 60 miles of Kentucky Downs without being within 60 miles of another association's racetrack or 40 miles of a simulcast facility. The request will allow the facility to host simulcast wagering and “exotic wagers yet to be determined,” which could include HHR.

The commission approved a request from Keeneland to begin its fall meet on April 2, rather than April 1 as originally requested.

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