Ward new executive director of Kentucky commission

by Brisnet.com

Kentucky governor Steve Beshear on Monday announced he will appoint veteran

Thoroughbred trainer John T. Ward as the new executive director of the Kentucky

Horse Racing Commission (KHRC). Ward, who along with his wife Donna operate John

T. Ward Stables in Paris, Kentucky, as well as training and racing operations in

New York and Florida, will assume his new role April 1. He succeeds Lisa E.

Underwood who resigned in November 2011 to return to private law practice.

"John Ward brings to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission years of experience

as a trainer and horseman, and his understanding of the needs of our struggling

horse industry make him an excellent choice to oversee the development and

regulation of racing and breeding in Kentucky," Beshear said.

The 66 year-old Ward trained Monarchos to win the 2001 Kentucky Derby as well

as 1999 champion older mare Beautiful Pleasure. He currently serves as a

commissioner on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, a position he will resign

in order to accept the executive director position. KHRC Chairman Robert M. Beck

Jr., Vice Chair Tracy Farmer and Public Protection Cabinet Secretary Robert

Vance conducted extensive interviews, and Ward emerged as their top choice. Beck

said Gov. Beshear's appointment of Ward as the new executive director is the

right call.

"John has an impeccable reputation not only in Kentucky, but throughout

Thoroughbred racing across the country," Beck said. "I believe Kentucky is

fortunate to have his knowledge and skills to lead us as we continue to look

toward the reemergence of one of Kentucky's signature industries as the

world-leader in breeding and racing."

Ward has also served on various horse industry commissions and councils under

former Kentucky governors John Y. Brown Jr. and Paul Patton. He is a founding

member and past president of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the

Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) where he helped in the

implementation of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Ward also served

on the TOBA Sales Integrity Task Force and the Kentucky Equine Drug Research

Council. He and his wife were also named recipients of the 2002 Kentucky

Thoroughbred Media's Ambassadors of Racing Award.

"While Kentucky has made great strides in the past five years to address the

safety and integrity of Thoroughbred racing, there is much more we can still

do," Ward said. "I am excited to be working with one of the most talented and

dedicated staffs of any commission in the country. This is a tremendous honor

and I look forward to the challenge."

Ward said he will surrender his Kentucky trainer's license once he assumes

his new position.