Registration Fees for Kentucky-Breds Increase

Noting the drying up of money from off-track betting locations in the state, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders will increase registration fees for eligible Kentucky-breds beginning Jan. 1, 2017.

Fees to register a foal will double from $30 to $60. Those who wait to register a yearling will see the fee increase from $50 to $75; and to register at racing age the cost will increase from $300 to $350. The fees to register a stallion will go from $200 to $350.

The current fee structure has been in place since 2004. The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund advisory committee approved the fee increase at its August meeting and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved the increase Sept. 6 at its regular meeting.

In a letter to Kentucky Horse Racing Commission chairman Frank Kling Jr., KTOB executive director Chauncey Morris noted that the closure of all four Kentucky OTB outlets has seen the money going into the Kentucky Thoroughbred Promotional Fund reduced to zero. That fund, which in 1999-2000 generated $216,578, reached zero in 2014-15.

"The KTOB has utilized funds from our reserves in order to market both the KTDF program and Kentucky-bred horses," Morris noted in the letter, adding that he doesn't want the state to lose momentum.

"Kentucky's racing circuit is bucking national trends in numbers of starters, handle, and on-track attendance. Our Kentucky-based horses have performed at the highest level within the United States, as well as abroad," Morris said. "Our intention is to utilize these funds in order to preserve our lead in racing, communicate the importance of registering KTDF-eligible horses as foals, as well as encourage more KTDF-registered and eligible horses residing out-of-state to start in Kentucky."

The KTOB presented research that showed foal registration in New York is $50, in California ranges from $100 to $200, and in Florida ranges from $75 to $350. Stallion registration in New York ranges from $250 to $500, in California is $1,250, and in Florida is $2,000.

At Tuesday's KHRC meeting, Morris estimated that the increased fees will generate $225,000 in additional money in their first full fiscal year. He said all of the money will be used to market Kentucky-bred horses and attract them to the state to race.