Kentucky Racing Commission Approves New Crop Use Rules

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission June 16 gave unanimous approval to new rules regulating the use of riding crops by jockeys, with riders allowed to use the crop six times during a race after the first furlong, and only twice in succession before allowing a horse the chance to respond.

Under the rules, jockeys would also be able to use the whip "to avoid a dangerous situation that may harm another rider or horse, left up to the discretion of stewards."

The new rules were approved and sent to the full commission by its Safety and Welfare Committee and Rules Committee after a nearly two-hour June 15 meeting.

OSER: KHRC Committees Approve Proposed Crop Use Amendments

"It was a long meeting, but I feel like there was some decent give and take there, which is what it requires to get an agreement," Rules Committee chair Mark Simendenger said of the previous day's committees meeting that included input from The Jockeys' Guild. "We were closer to the middle than when we started. And that takes cooperation on both sides. I think it's a step forward for Kentucky racing. I'm proud of the end result and looking forward to seeing how it works."

"I would just like to thank The Jockeys' Guild for listening and accepting what we were trying to do," said Safety and Welfare Committee chair Charlie O'Conner. "In the end we're all trying to conduct horse racing in a safe, mannerly way."

Also during Tuesday's meeting, Dr. Bruce Howard, the KHRC's equine medical director, reported on the Churchill Downs meet in which 2-year-old races are being run that do not allow the administration of the anti-bleeder medication Lasix within 24 hours of post time.

"We have run 11 2-year-old races at Churchill to date, with 107 starters for an average 9.7 horses per race," he said. "We have seen no instances of epistaxis (bleeding from the nose), all of whom are competing without Lasix this year."

The Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association had filed a suit against Churchill, Keeneland, and the KHRC over the tracks' race conditions that precluded race-day Lasix in 2-year-olds. A circuit court judge recently dismissed the suit, upholding the position of the tracks and KHRC that the horsemen's organization lacked standing to bring the suit. The Kentucky HBPA has since appealed the dismissal.

Also during the meeting conducted via teleconference due to COVID-19 restrictions, the first meeting presided over by new commissioner and chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz, Churchill Downs was approved for an additional day of racing for its current meet, June 28, after Ellis Park decided to forgo the date it was originally granted. Ellis Park will now begin its meet July 2 and will race an additional day during its opening week.

In other action, the commission approved changes to its fiduciary responsibility regulations that allow the commission to use any judgment "related to the business of horse racing" as a basis for denying an individual a license.