Kentucky bill enabling HHR passes Senate committee

The Kentucky Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee passed a bill Thursday that will allow historical horse racing wagering operations to continue in the state.

The Kentucky Equine Education Project, an equine economic advocacy organization commended the action, saying in a news release that it will protect critical jobs, investment and economic development across the state. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. John Schickel and Senate President Robert Stivers, now heads to the Senate floor for a full chamber vote.

The committee heard testimony in support of the bill from Kelli Pendleton, president and CEO of the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Drury, a horse trainer and Kentucky native, according to the release.

KEEP notes that the legislation was introduced to address the Kentucky Supreme Court’s ruling against historical horse racing and 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 that HHR venues can continue or resume operations.