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Kentucky Votes in More Humane Whip Rules

Kentucky became the second major racing jurisdiction in five days to vote in more humane whipping rules of racehorses.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) unanimously approved a new slate of whip regulations at its monthly teleconference meeting on Tuesday. The California Horse Racing Board had voted in more restrictive whip rules June 11.

A key aspect of the new KHRC rules includes a limit of six underhanded strikes per race with only two of those strikes allowed in succession before a horse has time to respond, just like in California.

But Kentucky will make an exception for whipping during the first furlong of a race “in a backhanded or underhanded fashion” without those strikes counting against the penalty limits.

Allowable uses of a riding crop will include:

* The riding crop being used at any time, without penalty, “if, in the opinion of the stewards, the riding crop is used to avoid a dangerous situation or preserve the safety of other riders or horses in a race.”

* Tapping the horse on the shoulder with the crop in the down position while both hands are holding onto the reins and both hands are touching the neck of the horse.

* Showing or waving the riding crop without contact with the horse and giving the horse time to respond before striking the horse.

Specifically prohibited actions are:

* Use of the crop with the rider’s wrist above helmet height.

* Use of the crop on the head, flanks, or on any other part of its body other than the shoulders or hind quarters.

* Use of the crop during the post parade or after the finish of the race except if necessary to control the horse.

* Excessive or brutal use of the crop causing injury to the horse.

* Use of the crop causing welts or breaks in the skin.

* Use of the crop if the horse is clearly out of the race or has obtained its maximum placing.

* Use of the crop even though the horse is showing no response.

Only padded/shock absorbing riding crops which have not been modified in any way may be carried in a race.

Riders using a riding crop in a manner contrary to the new rule will be subject to disciplinary action and monetary penalties that vary depending on the type of race in which the whip infractions occur and how many previous violations a rider has incurred.

In general, they fines are based on the percentage of the purse, and graded stakes races will be subject to lesser fine amounts. Scroll to page 6 of this document to see the full penalties list.

The rules passed by the full KHRC board Tuesday were the result of a set of measures crafted and unanimously approved Monday by the KHRC’s joint rules committee and safety and welfare committee. Those two committees invited input from track officials, the Jockeys’ Guild, and the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition.

Mark Simendinger, chair of KHRC rules committee, said of Monday’s rule-crafting session that, “It was a long meeting, but I feel there was some pretty decent give and take there, which is what it requires to get an agreement. And I don’t know that I can really necessarily call this an ‘agreement.’ But we were closer to the middle than when we started, I’ll tell you that…. I’m looking forward to getting this in place. I think it’s a step forward for Kentucky racing.”

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Ellis Park Given Approval for July 2 Start

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a July 2 start to the Ellis Park racing season. The meet had originally been scheduled to begin June 28 and Tuesday’s vote also approved the extension of the Churchill Downs meeting by one day to now end on the 28th.

Ellis Park general manager Jeff Inman said the track had requested the delay to have more time to institute all the safety protocols involved with staging horse racing in the COVID-19 era. Ellis Park is making up for not running June 28 by adding July 2, a date it originally had not planned to run.

“It’s win-win for everybody, including the state and Kentucky horsemen picking up an additional day of racing,” Inman said.

Ellis Park will now run July 2-5, then be dark the following week to allow Keeneland to run July 8-12. Ellis then resumes its Friday-Sunday schedule on July 17, running through Aug. 30.

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‘Win-Win’: Kentucky Commission Approves July 2 Opening Date For Ellis Park

Ellis Park on Tuesday received regulatory approval to begin its summer meet on Thursday July 2 rather than the previously scheduled Sunday June 28 opener. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission unanimously approved the change, which includes Churchill Downs extending its spring meet one day to close on June 28.

“It's win-win for everybody, including the state and Kentucky horsemen picking up an additional day of racing,” Inman said.

Ellis Park will not be able to accommodate spectators in the grandstand or outdoor areas until receiving approval from Gov. Andy Beshear's office. Under the state's measures for getting businesses back in operation following the COVID shutdown, the Ellis Park clubhouse has been allowed to re-open for Historical Horse Racing on the first floor and simulcast wagering on tracks across the country on the second floor.

The dates adjustments are the latest amid the health emergency that forced Keeneland to cancel its spring meet and for Churchill Downs to open later than scheduled. Ellis Park now will run July 2-5, then be dark the following week to allow Keeneland to run July 8-12. Ellis Park then resumes its Friday-Sunday schedule on July 17, running through Aug. 30.

Ellis Park earlier gave Sept. 1-6 to Churchill Downs in order to let the Louisville track run a rescheduled Kentucky Derby Week, with the Derby on Sept. 5.

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Ellis Park Will Ask Commission To Push Opening Day Back To July 2

If approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, live horse racing will return to the Tri-State area on Thursday July 2 at Ellis Park. Originally scheduled for Sunday June 28, Ellis made the request to move the date four days to ensure all health and safety protocols are met following the COVID-19 pandemic. The summer meet will be highlighted by a pair of stakes-laden programs on Aug. 2 and 9.

Ellis Park will start off racing without spectators in the grandstand and grassy area near the paddock, but track management is hopeful that the Commonwealth will allow fans in the stands at some point during the summer. The Clubhouse is open for Historical Horse Racing on the first floor and parimutuel betting on the second floor.

“We were going to be open one day and then be dark for three days, before picking back up on July 2,” said Jeff Inman, Ellis Park's general manager. “Just waiting until July 2 gives us additional valuable time to institute all the safety protocols involved with staging horse racing in the COVID-19 era. We are looking forward to the new opening date being a kickoff to a big four-day July 4th weekend.

“At this point we are unable to commit to having spectators in the grandstand and in the grassy picnic areas near the racetrack apron and paddock. We're awaiting word from Gov. Beshear's office as to when we can open areas outside of the Clubhouse. We cannot wait to get our fans back and we will be ready to go as soon as Gov. Beshear and his staff feel that it is safe.”

Ellis Park will not have live racing the week following the Independence Day holiday weekend in a previously-announced agreement that allows Keeneland Race Course to race July 8-12 to make up for the Lexington track's COVID-canceled April meet. Racing at Ellis will resume Friday, July 17 and run Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Aug. 30.

After four years of sustained growth, the Ellis purse account for the 2020 meet was battered by the nearly three-month shutdown to simulcasting and Historical Horse Racing due to the national health emergency. The track reopened this past Monday under reduced capacity and with strict safety measures in place.

Even with the challenges, Ellis Park will stage a pair of signature cards that promise to be in the national spotlight, with five $100,000 turf stakes on Kentucky Downs Preview Day on Aug. 2 and another stakes quintet on Aug. 9 headed by the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby, with four other $100,000 races.

The Ellis Park Derby, whose distance has been expanded from a mile to 1 1/8 miles, is part of Churchill Downs' Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying series. With 50 points to the winner, the horse is virtually assured a spot in the 20-horse field for America's greatest race, which was delayed to Sept. 5 because of the pandemic.

The Aug. 9 undercard features the seven-furlong Audubon Oaks, a one-time Ellis Park fixture that was revived this year to serve as a local prep for the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks. Additionally, that day will include the Groupie Doll for fillies and mares, the Ellis Park Juvenile for 2-year-olds, and the Ellis Park Debutante for 2-year-old fillies.

In its first two years, Kentucky Downs Preview Day quickly stamped itself as one of the most important days of summer racing in the Midwest. The five $100,000 all-turf stakes are designed as launching pads to corresponding stakes at Kentucky Downs' meet four weeks later in Franklin. The Ellis stakes are largely funded by money generated at Kentucky Downs and transferred to the Ellis Park purse account in an agreement with the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, which represents horse owners and trainers at both tracks. Winners of the Kentucky Downs Preview stakes receive an automatic fees-paid spot in their associated Kentucky Downs stakes.

Last year Totally Boss swept Ellis' Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint and Kentucky Downs' Grade 3 RUNHAPPY Turf Sprint to earn a “Win and You're In” spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Factor This, winner of the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup, finished fourth in Kentucky Downs' Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup before sweeping the two biggest turf stakes in New Orleans, the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Stakes and Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic.

Arklow captured the inaugural Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup and Kentucky Downs' Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup in 2018 before finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

“The trend in racing has been packaging stakes into big event days,” Inman said. “We have a pair of showcase cards, strategically placed on Sundays to put Ellis Park in the limelight for the national simulcast audience on that day. Racing secretary Dan Bork also positioned both days so that they work well with turf stakes at Churchill Downs' spring meet and Keeneland's boutique session and also as preludes to Kentucky Downs and Churchill Downs' new Derby Week and September meet stakes.”

The Aug. 2 and 9 stakes all include $25,000 in Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund purse supplements.

Ellis Park will have two other $50,000 stakes: The Ellis Park Turf for fillies and mares on July 5 and the Good Lord Stakes for sprinters on July 26.

“While we're certainly going to have our challenges, we believe the momentum of the Kentucky circuit the past few years and the loyal support of our horsemen and fans will serve us well,” Inman said. “As Americans and businesses everywhere confront this rocky stretch created by a once-in-a-century health emergency, we will get through this together. We are just delighted that we are able to bring live racing to western Kentucky this summer, even more so given the uncertainty surrounding whether there will be racing in Chicago at Arlington Park this summer. The Kentucky Downs Preview Day and Ellis Park Derby day should be a real treat for horseplayers and racing enthusiasts everywhere.”

Ellis Park 2020 stakes

July 5 — $50,000 Ellis Park Turf Stakes, fillies & mares 3 years old & up, 1 1/16 miles (turf).
July 26 — $50,000 Good Lord Stakes, 3-year-olds & up, 6 1/2 furlongs.
Aug. 2 (all on turf) — $100,000* Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Sprint, fillies & mares 3 years old & up, 5 1/2 furlongs; $100,000* Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup, 3-year-olds & up, 1 1/4 miles; $100,000* Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf, fillies & mares 3 years old &up, mile); $100,000* Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint, 3-year-olds & up, 5 1/2 furlongs; $100,000* Kentucky Downs Preview Tourist Mile, 3-year-olds & up, mile.
Aug. 9 — $200,000* Ellis Park Derby, 3-year-olds; 1 1/8 miles; $100,000* Audubon Oaks, 3-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs; $100,000* Ellis Park Juvenile, 2-year-olds, 7 furlongs; $100,000* Ellis Park Debutante, 7 furlongs.
*-includes $25,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund

Ellis Park condition book

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