Schickel to Introduce Historical Horse Racing Bill

Kentucky State Sen. John Schickel (Republican, Union) announced plans Jan. 28 to introduce a bill to preserve historical horse racing gaming in the state, according to the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Schickel, the chairman of the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee, said he will file the bill when the Kentucky General Assembly convenes for the second part of the 2021 session that begins Feb. 2, and that Senate president Robert Stivers will be among the bill's co-sponsors.

"This effort is about preserving a system of wagering we've known for live racing for decades and historical horse racing for the last 10 years," Schickel said in a news release from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. "This is about maintaining the status quo. Our immediate action as legislators is critical to protecting current and future jobs and economic development across the Commonwealth."

The bill is in response to a Kentucky Supreme Court decision in September that ruled that one type of HHR gaming device did not fit the state's current definition of pari-mutuel wagering, resulting in calls for the legislature to clarify the definition. The devices resemble slot machines, though their results are based on previously run horse races.

The date of the intended filing comes a day after representatives from the Kentucky Equine Education Project, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, lawmakers, and state horsemen and track leaders meet at Keeneland Feb. 1 to discuss HHR.

Angst: Kentucky Lawmakers to Discuss Planned HHR Legislation

An HHR facility in Lexington at The Red Mile, which the harness track operates with Keeneland, suspended its HHR operations Jan. 24 in a move meant to create urgency with lawmakers. Other HHR gaming venues in the state have remained open.

Gov. Andy Beshear (Democrat) supports legislation that would define HHR as legal, and Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer (Republican, Georgetown) and Rep. Adam Koenig (Republican, Erlanger) are among other HHR supporters.

HHR faces opposition from The Family Foundation, a group that opposed HHR in court that advocates for conservatism and faith-based stances in the legislature. Republicans control the Kentucky legislature.

"We applaud Chairman Schickel, President Stivers, and all those working on this legislation to help one of Kentucky's signature industries," said Ashli Watts, president and CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. "This bill will provide certainty for many Kentucky businesses and employees relying on the success of the horse industry to make a living and feed their families, and we ask all legislators for their support in this effort."

The horse industry is responsible for more than 60,000 direct and indirect jobs in Kentucky and $5.2 billion in economic impact statewide, according to figures from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. The devices have been highly lucrative for racetrack operators, and HHR has provided a boost for Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund purses, generating more than $15 million in the fiscal year 2020.

Schickel said in the release he plans on hearing the bill in a Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee meeting Feb. 4.