Kentucky commission passes rule to keep claimers in state
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved a rule during its Tuesday meeting that would ban horses claimed in Kentucky from running in another state for 30 days after the end of the meet where it is claimed.
The new rule passed the commission unanimously.
“I appreciate the rules committee for their work on this important issue,” commissioner Bill Landes said at the meeting. “I know this is a breath of fresh air for the racing associations and the racing secretaries.”
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Also included in the new rules was a restriction on owners claiming more than one horse out of a race. Trainers will be allowed to make two claims, but only one per owner.
Owners will also not be allowed to claim a horse in Kentucky unless they have run a horse in the state in the previous 30 days. The question was raised as to whether prospective new owners will still be able to make a claim, and rules committee chair Mark Simendinger said they would.
“There is a claiming license that can be secured through the stewards,” Simendinger said. “That claiming license will allow somebody that has not made a start in the last 30 days to go ahead.”
In addition, the commission, led by chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz, discussed possibly loosening rules that prevent commission representatives from issuing statements on rule violation.
“I think transparency and a more publicized process will allow us to become more effective commissioners,” Landes said.
No concrete action was made beyond Rabinowitz making a statement, saying the commission will look at “significant” changes to the current rules structure.
The commission also approved a rule requiring horses that return from layoffs longer than 90 days to have two published works and horses returning from layoffs longer than 180 days to have three, before being entered in a race. One of those workouts must be within 20 days of the race.
The next KHRC meeting is scheduled for March 15.