KTDF Committee Recommends Fee Increase to Fund Research

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Mares and foals in Kentucky

An increase in Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund registrations fees for foals, yearlings, and stallions to help fund recurring reproductive-related research will be recommended to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission after gaining approval from the KTDF Advisory Committee Aug. 3.

The full commission, which receives recommendations from its multiple committees pertaining to measures on which it votes, next meets Aug. 17.

Chauncey Morris, executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association-Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, which oversees KTDF registrations of Kentucky-sired and -foaled horses, said they seek to raise $160,000 each year for the research. One hundred percent of the funds would go toward funding research on new and emerging threats in the Kentucky breeding industry.

"In 2021, Kentucky breeders were hit by a very high number of foal diarrhea cases necessitating a large number to be admitted to all the surrounding clinics and intensive care wards," Morris said. "Originally thought to be caused be clostridium perfringens, emergency research which was funded by Gluck, our foundation, Grayson-Jockey Club, and Coolmore found the presence of a novel rotavirus previously unseen. 

"Thankfully these cases were not fatal, but it did remind us, however, that we have to find a sustainable funding source to enable research on emergent threats. Our association will be the stewards of these funds and commit to using 100% on research."

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Morris said his organization envisions five advisory members consisting of farm managers, an equine veterinarian, and a scientific adviser to prioritize the funds.

Dr. David Richardson, who represents the KTOB on the KTDF Advisory Committee, shared his support of raising funds for the research.

"If you think about racing in America, if something happens to Kentucky, we're done. The whole country's done," he said. "… It is Kentucky that drives the whole country. If something bad happens, we have enough problems with the foal crop (numbers dropping). I do think this is a good idea. I just urge caution in terms of being very, very miserly, and forward thinking in terms of how these things are allocated because what you're going to really need is a big chunk of money, not a small chunk."

If voted in favor of by the commission as is, the KTDF registration fees would see foal registration increase to $75 from $60, yearlings increase to $100 from $75, and stallions increase to an ascending range of $400-$850 from $350. Horses of racing age would remain unchanged at $350.

"It's going to be very forward looking and robustly grading what the current threats are and funding the type of research that's going to answer those (and) provide us those tools on either solutions or ways to manage," Morris said.