KY Downs Re-Accredited by Safety Alliance

Kentucky Downs near Franklin, Ky., has been re-accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety and Integrity Alliance.

 

Originally opened in 1990 as the steeplechase venue Dueling Grounds, the track with the unique undulating 1 5/16-mile turf course was renamed Kentucky Downs in 1998. In 2007, it was purchased by a group of investors who helped add Historical Horse Racing games that have increased purse money to unprecedented levels. September's 2015 race meeting set new records for handle ($16.8 million), single day handle ($5.07 million), purses paid ($6.6 million) and average field size (10.6 horses per race).



The reaccreditation of Kentucky Downs was the culmination of a process that began with the track's completion of a 48-page written application and continued as the track hosted several meetings with Alliance officials. An on-site review included inspections of all facets of the racing operations. Interviews were conducted with track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, owners, trainers, veterinarians, stewards and regulators.



Alliance certification standards address an extensive list of safety and integrity concerns within six broad areas: injury reporting and prevention; creating a safer racing environment; aftercare and transition of retired racehorses; uniform medication, testing and penalties; safety research; and wagering security.

 

"The Alliance is especially impressed with Kentucky Downs' small-track footprint achieving big-track results in the areas of safety and integrity," said Steve Koch, executive director of the alliance. "Kentucky Downs clearly is committed to a grade one impact on the North American racing landscape and we applaud the positive examples they set."



Kentucky Downs received its initial Alliance accreditation in 2011. All accreditations and re-accreditations carry an effective period of two years.

 

"I'm a big believer in having standards for safety within our industry," said Kentucky Downs president Corey Johnsen. "Someday, every track needs to be part of this program and racing commissions should include in their rules that you have to be accredited to get a license to operate. There's nothing more important to Kentucky Downs than safety and we're finding more and more that if we do a number of simple things that we can have a lot of success."