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KY HBPA Donates $25K to Hurricane Relief

The Kentucky HBPA 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.”

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 here.

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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.

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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Jennie Rees, Joe Clabes Launch ‘KY Racing Spotlight’ Radio Show On ESPN 680/105.7

Lucky 7 Stable's Mike Mackin, horse owner/celebrity bettor Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer are among the guests as Kentucky Racing Spotlight presented by the Kentucky HBPA debuts Friday. The weekly radio program will air 6-7 p.m. ET Fridays through March 4 on Louisville's ESPN 680/105.7, the region's sports-talk leader.

Hosted by horse-racing communications veterans Jennie Rees and Joe Clabes, Kentucky Racing Spotlight assumes the time slot filled much of the year by Inside Churchill Downs. The program will showcase Kentucky racing and horsemen, with one focus being Turfway Park's winter meet, while also featuring the week's major stakes nationally as well as the breeding industry and horse auctions. This week's featured handicapper is Horse Racing Nation's Ed DeRosa.

In addition to being on ESPN 680-AM/105.7 FM in Louisville, Kentucky Racing Spotlight will be streamed at espnlouisville.com, on the ESPN 680 app and the TuneIn and iHeart apps. The replay will be available on espnlouisville.com under the podcasts tab.

Regular segments will include interviews with Kentucky racing's policy-makers, the Louisville Thoroughbred Society's corporate member of the week and behind-the-scenes looks at aspects of the racing or breeding industry.

“When Jennie and Joe came to us with their vision for the show, our board knew it was a concept we wanted to embrace,” said Marty Maline, executive director of the Kentucky HBPA. “The show will help bring attention to what should be a strong meet at Turfway Park as well as keeping tabs on Kentucky horsemen who head south for the winter. One of the Kentucky HBPA's missions is to promote our horses and horsemen, and this show will do just that.”

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Youth Movement: Barkley, Casse, Combs Join Kentucky HBPA Board

A trio of thirty-something trainers has been elected as newcomers to the Kentucky HBPA board with the addition of Jason Barkley, Norm Casse and Bentley Combs.

Rick Hiles was re-elected as Kentucky HBPA president, with Frank Jones re-elected as the owner vice president and Dale Romans as the trainer vice president. Also re-elected to the board were owners Mark Bacon, Buff Bradley (who switches over from the trainer side), Mike Bruder and Travis Foley and trainer John Hancock. Trainer R.C. Sturgeon and owner James Williams will serve as alternates.

Hiles, who has been president for 21 years with another 16 spent serving on the board, said he welcomes getting the millennials involved. Barkley (32), Casse (37) and Combs (33) join 37-year-old Foley, who was elected to a third term.

“Everything we've got we fought for,” Hiles said. “Every purse, every benefit, every program back here, the HBPA has fought for. I'm glad to see some young guys getting involved. I'm getting old, and so is [executive director] Marty [Maline]. They need to learn, because they're going to have to take this over. It's good to see some new young people coming to get involved. I'm tickled. It will be good for the organization.”

Barkley and Combs are graduates of the University of Louisville's Equine Industry Program in the College of Business. Casse is a graduate of Bellarmine University in Louisville. Barkley and Combs participated in their first meeting when the board was seated and officers elected Nov. 23.

“I was just trying to get my bearings, see how everybody goes about their business,” said Barkley, a fourth-generation horseman from the Evansville-Henderson area who began training full-time in 2017. “A lot of those guys have been there for a while. You try to take your cues from them. I want to be an advocate for the horsemen. Sometimes I feel like the big things get handled and maybe the smaller things can fall through the cracks–things we talk about on the rail, [I can] take those to the meetings.”

“I learned a ton of stuff I didn't even know existed, frankly,” said Combs, who grew up in Lexington and also has an MBA from Ole Miss. “Being on the HBPA board, you get to see the overall business side of it, as far as the money taken in, where it's going, the good causes. The health and welfare stuff they were talking about, I had no idea.”

Casse is a third-generation horseman from Louisville who began training in 2018 after 12 years as an assistant trainer for his father, Mark.

“I feel like I've got a finger on the pulse, so to speak, of what we need,” he said. “I owe horse racing everything. It's the right thing for me to do, to start giving my time and helping other people as well. It's not like I have any preconceived notions. I'm very green when it comes to this type of the thing. But I want to look out for the horsemen and the best interest of the trainer. I feel it's part of my obligation to give the time to do that.”

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