Kentucky Chamber of Commerce | Horse Racing Free Tips

Keeneland To Host Horsemen For Historical Horse Racing Legislative Informational Session On Feb. 1

Horsemen and state leaders will convene in support of Historical Horse Racing at the Keeneland Entertainment Center on Feb. 1 at 6:00 p.m., according to the Kentucky Equine Education Project. The meeting is also being hosted by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club, and is presented by Breeders' Cup and Jackson Kelly PLLC.

“As you know, HHR is under threat following the Kentucky Supreme Court's ruling that called into question the legality of HHR,” KEEP said in a release calling for industry support of the Feb. 1 event. “Now it is up to the state legislature to take action to preserve HHR and its unparalleled impact on Kentucky's horse industry.”

According to the Blood-Horse, the Feb. 1 panel will be led by Kentucky State Rep. Matt Koch (Republican, Paris), and will include Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer (Republican, Georgetown), Rep. Adam Koenig (Republican, Erlanger), and Sen. John Schickel (Republican, Union), as well as Kentucky Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Ashli Watts.

COVID-19 protocols will be enforced at the event, which is currently filled to capacity. To sign up to watch the live stream, follow this link.

The Kentucky Supreme Court issued a brief statement last Thursday in which it declined to reconsider its unanimous decision on historical horse racing machines issued on Sept. 24, 2020. In response, both Keeneland and Red Mile temporarily shut down historical racing operations over the weekend.

Legislation to legalize Historical Horse Racing in Kentucky has not yet been introduced, but KEEP said it expects that legislation sooner rather than later. The session resumes on Feb. 2.

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Kentucky Chamber Files Amicus Brief In Historical Horse Racing Case

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce on Thursday submitted a brief of amicus curiae to the Kentucky Supreme Court in support of rehearing the case on historical horse racing.

“The Chamber takes this unusual step out of genuine concern that the Court may have abandoned long-standing doctrines of statutory construction, strayed from its usual adherence to precedent, and reached a conclusion that could be potentially devastating to the horse industry and thereby Kentucky's economy,” wrote Louisville-based attorney Virginia Hamilton Snell on behalf of the Kentucky Chamber in the motion for leave to file.

The Supreme Court issued an opinion in September stating that historical horse racing machines – which have created a major source of revenue for Kentucky's signature equine industry in recent years – did not meet the legal definition of pari-mutuel wagering and are thus prohibited by state law.

“The equine industry is not only a major economic driver responsible for thousands of Kentucky jobs, it's also part of our identity,” said Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ashli Watts. “Introduction of historical horse racing has allowed the industry to thrive, creating more jobs and generating hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in the Commonwealth. To shut these machines down would be a major blow to a signature industry and result in more layoffs for Kentuckians in the midst of a global pandemic.”

Historical Horse Racing operators are expected to submit a petition for reconsideration in the coming days to the Supreme Court before a final ruling is issued.

Click here to view the full amicus brief

The post Kentucky Chamber Files Amicus Brief In Historical Horse Racing Case appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Nationally Recognized Apprenticeships For Horse Industry Ready To Run

Through collaboration with employers and educational entities, a new horse care apprenticeship program has recently been registered with the Kentucky and United States Departments of Labor. This opportunity, aimed at providing “earn and learn” training in horsemanship, is an Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program for individuals interested in working in the horse industry. Given the recent suspension of H-2B visas in the United States, an avenue which has historically been critical to Kentucky's equine industry workforce, the creation of this apprenticeship program cannot come at a more opportune time to continue to train a domestic workforce.

The Horse Trainer (Horseman) Apprenticeship (O*Net-Soc Code: 39-2011.00 Rapids Code: 1001) encompasses 2,000 hours of carefully employer structured competencies during which an apprentice can attain industry-recognized skills needed to successfully begin or continue a career in any horse related industry sub-sector, such as: racing, breeding, showing, and other similar disciplines.

While on the job, apprentices will learn or improve their skills in areas such as: horse handling, feeding and nutrition, proper grooming and exercise, identification of disease or illness, basic health care and medical treatments and facility care and maintenance. This program was created to produce a well-rounded, competent horseman capable of excelling in any facet of the equine industry.

Advantages for apprentices include:

Earn while you learn at your own pace
Learn the skills horse industry employers have shown they are seeking
Advancement within the industry promoting an increased future earning potential
Faster access to state mandated occupational licensing

Advantages for employers include:

Customized training
A skilled workforce educated by industry experts
Improved productivity and lower turnover

This new apprenticeship is the result of collaboration between the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce/Kentucky Equine Education Project's Equine Talent Pipeline Workforce Initiative, the Bluegrass Community and Technical College Workforce Solutions / North American Racing Academy and equine employers across the industry.

Additionally, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) will be able to provide valuable assistance through its newly launched apprenticeship support program developed specifically to help employers manage their apprenticeships. The services BCTC and KCTCS will assist employers with include:

Recruitment
Mentorship/Coaching
Administrative Services: Federal registration, Employer Acceptance Agreements
Compliance / Record-Keeping: Ensuring that apprentices are completing on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
Evaluating ROI and employer's satisfaction with their workforce pipeline.

Apprenticeships have been utilized in various industries across the United States for decades, providing education and training within the setting that knows best, the workplace. The introduction of the Horseman apprenticeship elevates the Kentucky equine industry to a higher tier, allowing any individual the opportunity for world-class hands-on learning.

“Adding a nationally recognized apprenticeship for aspiring horsemen and horsewomen to our industry's workforce recruitment and training toolbox will help immeasurably. This program helps us make working with horses more accessible to more potential workers and breaks down many of the barriers to entry which often exist” notes Remi Bellocq, Executive Director, North American Racing Academy at Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

“The horse industry has been hungry for a way to bring all the players together to reach, and train, a broader audience of new horseman. The creation of the Horseman apprenticeship in Kentucky, the Horse Capitol of the World, is the perfect solution” states Laurie Mays, Equine Talent Pipeline Project Manager with KEEP and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “Both apprentices and employers can expect great things from this program.”

Horsemen Apprenticeships Created in Kentucky

A new horse care apprenticeship program is available and has been registered with the Kentucky and the United States Departments of Labor. As an ‘Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program’ coming on the heels of the recent suspension of H-2B visas in the United States, the aim is to help train a domestic workforce and produce well-rounded horsemen ready to excel in any facet of the horse industry.

The apprenticeship is a collaboration between the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce/Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP)’s Equine Talent Pipeline Workforce Initiative, the Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) Workforce Solutions/North American Racing Academy (NARA), and employers across the industry. The Kentucky Community and Technical College System will also provide assistance through its newly launched apprenticeship support program.

“Adding a nationally recognized apprenticeship for aspiring horsemen and horsewomen to our industry’s workforce recruitment and training toolbox will help immeasurably,” said Remi Bellocq, executive director of the NARA at BCTC. “This program helps us make working with horses more accessible to more potential workers and breaks down many of the barriers to entry which often exist.”

With 2,000 hours required, the Horse Trainer (Horseman) Apprenticeship gives trainees industry-recognized skills needed to successfully begin or continue a career in racing, breeding, showing, and other disciplines. Apprentices will become adept in horse handling, feeding and nutrition, proper grooming and exercise, identification of disease or illness, basic health care and medical treatments, and facility care and maintenance.

“The horse industry has been hungry for a way to bring all the players together to reach, and train, a broader audience of new horseman,” said Laurie Mays, Equine Talent Pipeline Project Manager with KEEP and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “Both apprentices and employers can expect great things from this program.”

For employers or potential apprentices seeking more information, please contact either Laurie Mays (lmays@kychamber.com) or Gary Robinson (gary.robinson@kctcs.edu).

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