Bill expanding KTDF availability to be introduced in next General Assembly

Bill expanding KTDF availability to be introduced in next

General Assembly

Representatives of the Kentucky state legislature, the

Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Thoroughbred industry organizations

met at Turfway Park Thursday to hear from Sen. John Schickel (R-District 11)

regarding a new bill that will make more purse money available to certain

Thoroughbred horses racing in Kentucky.

The bill was pre-filed December 12 as BR 328 by Schickel, who

represents Boone County. It will be introduced during the next session of the

General Assembly, which begins the second week of January. The bill provides

that horses running in allowance/optional claiming races for a claim price of at least $25,000 will be eligible for

money added to purses from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF).

"This bill has the support of the Kentucky State Senate,"

Schickel said. "We want to protect the horse industry and keep Kentucky horses

on this side of the river."

As the rules now stand, KTDF money is available only to

horses that are not entered for a claim. Each horse entered in a claiming race

may be bought, or claimed, from that race for a designated price. An allowance/optional claiming race is a hybrid, combining allowance horses, which are not

offered for sale, and claiming horses.

Currently only the allowance horses in

such a race are eligible for the KTDF portion of the purse, which at Turfway

equals half an allowance/optional claiming race purse.

"Senator Schickle's bill will allow owners and trainers of

Kentucky-bred horses to compete for the entire purse in all allowance/optional

claiming races," said Tyler Picklesimer, Turfway's director of racing and racing

secretary. "This will encourage horsemen to keep their higher-priced claiming

horses in Kentucky for the winter.

"That translates to fuller fields and more

quality horses, which will lead to increased wagering. Increased wagering in

turn will increase revenue for Turfway, purse funds for horsemen, and tax

revenue for the Commonwealth. There is absolutely no downside to Senator

Schickle's bill. It simply allows optional claimers to run for the entire

purse."

Schickel noted that the language of the bill was developed

by Sen. Damon Thayer (R-District 17) and David Switzer, executive director of

the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and

Breeders.

While Thayer was unable to attend Thursday's announcement,

Switzer was on hand. Also in attendance were House members Adam Koenig

(R-District 69) and Sal Santoro (R-District 60); Kevin Donnelly, public affairs

manager for the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; Burr Travis Jr., a member

of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission; Jamie Eads, director of incentives and

development for the Kentucky Breeders' Incentive Fund; and Marty Maline,

executive director of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective

Association. General Manager Chip Bach and Picklesimer represented Turfway Park.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com