Legislators discuss expansion of Quarter horse racing, breeding in Kentucky Oct. 24, 2024 Rep. Jonathan Dixon, R-Corydon, speaks to the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations on Thursday about the expansion of quarter horse racing and breeding in the Commonwealth. A high-resolution photo can be found here. FRANKFORT — Changes to statute regarding Quarter horse racing and the definition of “Kentucky-bred” may be considered during the 2025 legislative session. Rep. Jonathan Dixon, R-Corydon, and Adam Koenig, executive director of the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association, shared their ideas on expanding Quarter horse racing and breeding with the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations on Thursday. A new Quarter horse race track is currently under construction in Ashland. With that, Koenig said it is time for Quarter horses to have their own section of statute when it comes to governance. Currently, Quarter horses are regulated the same as Appaloosa, Paint and Arabian horses, he said. “Now that we are fortunate enough to have a license and a track here soon, it would probably be best to separate that out so that when we need specific changes specific to us, we are (separate) from all those other breeds,” Koenig said. Changing what it means to be a Kentucky-bred horse is another idea Koenig and Dixon would like the Kentucky General Assembly to consider. The proposed new definition would allow a foal born in Kentucky to be a Kentucky-bred horse, even if the broodmare was bred in another state. Dixon said Quarter horse racing is growing rapidly in other states and these proposed changes will help Kentucky be competitive. “There are a lot of breeders that are out there that those types of incentives would help bring Quarter horses here to Kentucky,” Dixon said. Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said he is the original author of the Kentucky breeder’s incentive legislation that repurposed the sales tax on stud fees into an incentive program for people to bring mares to Kentucky, breed them to Kentucky stallions and leave them to foal. “Quarter horses are moving forward, and I certainly think that part of your statutory change is in line with that necessity,” Thayer said, adding there is precedent to change the statute. Thayer also acknowledged the importance of the horse racing industry and how bringing more horses into the state also creates more jobs. “Whether it’s a stallion or a mare, they create jobs,” he said. “It has a huge trickle-down effect, and I appreciate the creative approach that you’re looking to do here to try to get Quarter horse mares into Kentucky.” A full draft of the bill is not yet available, but Thayer asked Koenig to talk about a sunset provision committee co-chair Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, mentioned. “We’re not going to leave (the bill) open-ended,” Koenig said. “We were talking about three years.” The hope is that after three years enough Quarter horses will be in the state that the incentives will no longer be needed, Koenig added. Thayer said he supports a sunset clause. “I would like to see a sunset provision on it to see if the stallions follow the mares. They usually do,” he added. The Kentucky General Assembly cannot act on legislation until the 2025 legislative session begins on Jan. 7. The next Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Nov. 19. For more information, visit legislature.ky.gov. The post Legislators discuss expansion of Quarter horse racing, breeding in Kentucky appeared first on The Lexington Times.