robert stivers | Horse Racing Free Tips

Kentucky Senate Passes Historical Horse Racing Bill; Legislation Moves To House Next

The Kentucky State Senate passed the Historical Horse Racing Bill, Senate Bill 120, by a margin of 22-15 on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), Kentucky's equine economic advocate, released the following statement:

“We applaud the Senate for voting to keep historical horse racing in Kentucky and protect important jobs and investment in communities across the commonwealth. Senator John Schickel and Senate President Robert Stivers have been instrumental in moving this legislation forward, and we thank them for their efforts. Now, we are calling on our elected officials in the House to bring SB 120 to passage so that historical horse racing can continue in the commonwealth, just as it has for the last decade.

“The future of the horse industry and Kentucky's economy is in legislators' hands, and real jobs and livelihoods are at risk. Tens of thousands of Kentuckians rely on the equine industry to make a living and provide for their families—many of whom have already sent messages and made calls to their legislators asking them to vote yes on this critical legislation. They are your neighbors, family members, colleagues and friends. We hope that legislators will keep these individuals in mind as they discuss SB 120 in the coming days. A vote to keep historical horse racing in Kentucky is a vote for Kentucky families and the industry that supports them.”

The bill will be heard in the House Committee on Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations before heading to the House floor for a vote.

The Kentucky Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision on historical horse racing machines on Sept. 24, 2020, deeming one particular brand to not constitute pari-mutuel wagering. When the Court declined to reconsider that decision in January, both Keeneland and Red Mile temporarily shut down historical racing operations.

Senator Schickel and Senate President Stivers introduced Senate Bill 120 on Feb. 2. It defines pari-mutuel wagering to be consistent with how the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has regulated live racing for decades and historical horse racing for the last ten years. The legislation also reaffirms that only pari-mutuel wagering on simulcasts of live racing can occur at simulcast facilities. In effect, this maintains the status quo that Kentucky has known for the last decade, ensuring HHR venues can continue or resume operations.

The post Kentucky Senate Passes Historical Horse Racing Bill; Legislation Moves To House Next appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Senate Committee Will Hear Testimony Supporting Historical Horse Racing Bill Thursday

Today at 11 am EST, the Kentucky State Senate Committee on Licensing & Occupations will hear testimony in support of Senate Bill 120, legislation to keep historical horse racing in Kentucky.

The legislation was introduced earlier this week by Senator John Schickel and Senate President Robert Stivers and is backed by a broad coalition of horse industry, business, economic development and tourism organizations, including the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), which released a statement on the bill earlier this week.

SB 120 seeks to address a recent Supreme Court ruling by maintaining the status quo Kentucky has known for the past decade so that historical horse racing can continue in our state. HHR has led to significant job creation, community investment and economic development in communities across the commonwealth.

Testimony will be provided by:

Sen. John Schickel, bill sponsor
Kelli Pendleton, president/CEO, Christian County Chamber of Commerce
Tom Drury, horse trainer
Marc Guilfoil, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission

The committee will meet in Annex Room 171 in Frankfort and will be streamed live at ket.org/legislature.

The post Senate Committee Will Hear Testimony Supporting Historical Horse Racing Bill Thursday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

HHR Bill Introduced in Kentucky State Senate

Kentucky State Senator John Schickel and Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers introduced Senate Bill 120 into the Kentucky State legislature late Tuesday with the goal of keeping historical horse racing in Kentucky and ensuring the future of Kentucky's signature equine industry.

“KEEP applauds Senator Schickel and Senate President Stivers for Introducing Senate Bill 120, Legislation to Keep Historical Horse Racing in Kentucky,” read a KEEP press release issued late yesterday.

“In response to the Supreme Court's ruling on historical horse racing, the legislation will define pari-mutuel wagering to be consistent with how the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has regulated live racing for decades and historical horse racing for the last 10 years. The legislation also reaffirms that only pari-mutuel wagering on simulcasts of live racing can occur at simulcast facilities. In effect, this maintains the status quo that Kentucky has known for the last decade, ensuring HHR venues can continue or resume operations that are so beneficial to the horse industry and statewide economy.

“This effort is about preserving a system of wagering we've known for live racing for decades and historical horse racing for the last 10 years,” Schickel said last week, as he prepared to introduce the legislation. “This is about maintaining the status quo. Our immediate action as legislators is critical to protecting current and future jobs and economic development across the Commonwealth.”

A ruling in September by the Kentucky Supreme Court stipulated that many of the state's machines do not constitute pari-mutuel wagering and were therefore not allowed. It also required that legislation be introduced to uphold the existing definition of the games as pari-mutuel before the end of the legislative session Mar. 30. The original lawsuit against HHR was brought by the Family Foundation, a conservative organization opposed to gambling and its expansion. Members of the racing industry argue that the loss of revenue would be crippling to racing in Kentucky.

“We applaud Sen. Schickel for championing Senate Bill 120, which will keep historical horse racing in Kentucky and protect critical jobs, economic investment and state revenue at a time when they are needed most,” said the statement from KEEP. “We also thank Senate President Stivers for his support as a co-sponsor of this important legislation. The Kentucky Supreme Court gave the General Assembly clear direction to preserve the status quo, and SB 120 gives us a path forward.

“Historical horse racing is an integral part of Kentucky's signature equine industry and our economy as a whole and has helped position Kentucky as a worldwide leader in racing. With real jobs and investment on the line, we urge the members of the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee to promptly move this legislation forward so that the commonwealth can continue to benefit from historical horse racing, now and in the years to come.”

SB 120 is set to be heard in the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4.

The post HHR Bill Introduced in Kentucky State Senate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Kentucky Senators Introduce Historical Horse Racing Bill ‘To Preserve The Status Quo’

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), Kentucky's equine economic advocate, applauds Senator John Schickel and Senate President Robert Stivers for introducing Senate Bill 120 today, which will keep historical horse racing in Kentucky and ensure the future of our signature equine industry.

In response to the Supreme Court's ruling on historical horse racing, the legislation will define pari-mutuel wagering to be consistent with how the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has regulated live racing for decades and historical horse racing for the last ten years. The legislation also reaffirms that only pari-mutuel wagering on simulcasts of live racing can occur at simulcast facilities. In effect, this maintains the status quo that Kentucky has known for the last decade, ensuring HHR venues can continue or resume operations that are so beneficial to the horse industry and statewide economy.

KEEP issued the following statement regarding the legislation:

“We applaud Sen. Schickel for championing Senate Bill 120, which will keep historical horse racing in Kentucky and protect critical jobs, economic investment and state revenue at a time when they are needed most. We also thank Senate President Stivers for his support as a co-sponsor of this important legislation. The Kentucky Supreme Court gave the General Assembly clear direction to preserve the status quo, and SB 120 gives us a path forward.

KEEP is joined by a broad coalition of industry, business and economic development groups in support of the bill and has been encouraging Kentuckians to contact their elected officials regarding the legislation. SB 120 is set to be heard in the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4.

The post Kentucky Senators Introduce Historical Horse Racing Bill ‘To Preserve The Status Quo’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post