The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's Rules Committee has approved recommending a Kentucky “claiming jail” rule and additional workout reporting regulations during the next KHRC meeting on Feb. 15, according to bloodhorse.com.
If approved, a horse claimed in Kentucky will not be able to race outside the state for 30 days from the end of the meet at which it was claimed.
Many states already have a “claiming jail” rule on the books, though Kentucky had previously faced court challenges from owner Jerry Jamgotchian over a similar regulation. KHRC general counsel Jennifer Wolsing was confident that the new rule would pass legal scrutiny.
Additionally, horses starting after lengthy layoffs could be required to have additional workouts prior to those starts, an idea initially proposed by the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation on behalf of bettors.
The committee suggests that a horse entered off a 90-day break be required to show two reported workouts (one within 20 days of entry), and a horse off a 180-day break be required to show three reported works (one within 20 days of entry). Current regulations require horses entered off a rest of 45 or more days to show one work within 20 days of entry.
The rules committee will recommend the new rules during the Feb. 15
Read more at bloodhorse.com.
