With quarter horse racing about to start out in Kentucky, an trade commerce group had tabbed a former state lawmaker to function its first govt director.
Adam Koenig, then a state consultant within the Kentucky Basic Meeting, presents Senate Invoice 120, a invoice regarding historic horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, throughout a Home session in 2021. On Tuesday, the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Affiliation named Koenig as its first govt director. (Picture: Kentucky LRC Public Data)
Adam Koenig has been employed to go up the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Affiliation (KQHRA), in accordance with an announcement the group launched on Tuesday. Koenig was a state lawmaker for 16 years and served because the chairman of the Home Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Rules Committee for the final six years.
He misplaced his bid for re-election in a main final 12 months.
Koenig’s committee handled laws pertaining to racing, and lately, authored or helped information necessary payments to passage. Final 12 months, he sponsored the broad racing reform invoice that included penny breakage, which requires tracks to pay all wagers all the way down to the penny relatively than spherical all the way down to the following 10-cent increment. In 2021, he shepherded the invoice that formally legalized historic horse racing machines (HHR) within the state.
Rep. Koenig spent a few years serving to Kentucky’s horse racing trade, and we’re grateful he’ll proceed that work on this new position,” KQHRA President Dr. Richard Connelley stated in an announcement. “He brings unmatched management and relationships that may assist us take the most important step in our historical past.”
Koenig additionally sponsored laws to legalize sports activities betting in Kentucky. Final 12 months, the Home handed the invoice for the primary time, however proponents couldn’t muster sufficient assist for a vote within the Senate earlier than the session ended.
Koenig to Work with New Observe
As govt director, Koenig will oversee the group’s day by day operations and be its level particular person in working with lawmakers, regulators, and different stakeholders.
“I’ve spent that point preventing for the trade, and whereas I haven’t beforehand labored instantly in it, I consider my relationships within the Legislature, in addition to with the KHRC, might be very useful for horse homeowners,” he stated in an announcement. “I sit up for working with everybody to make sure quarter horses have a brilliant future right here.”
Koenig can even work with Revolutionary Racing, which acquired Kentucky’s ninth and closing racing license final 12 months. In partnership with EBCI Holdings, the corporate is constructing a $55 million quarter horse monitor and equine middle in Ashland. The northeastern Kentucky venue would be the state’s first quarter horse monitor.
Earlier this month, Revolutionary Racing introduced that John Marshall, an skilled monitor govt, would function the monitor president. Revolutionary Racing plans a six-day meet at The Crimson Mile harness monitor in Lexington from April 1-6.
“We’ve got made nice strides in making Kentucky the perfect place to race and breed on this planet,” Koenig stated. “The lacking piece has been quarter horses, so to be a part of the start of that’s really thrilling.”
Primer: Horse Racing in Kentucky
The Bluegrass State is a significant participant within the equine trade. In line with information from the affiliation, it’s house to 30,000 quarter horses owned by greater than 10,000 individuals.
Kentucky, in fact, is greatest identified for thoroughbred racing. That features the Kentucky Derby, the preferred race within the US. The state’s thoroughbred circuit consists of 5 tracks: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ellis Park in Henderson, Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky Downs in Franklin, and Turfway Park in Florence.
Quarter horses are shorter and stockier than their thoroughbred cousins, however they’re additionally quicker. However the largest distinction between the 2 breeds is the gap they race. Most thoroughbred races vary from six furlongs (three-quarters of a mile) to a mile-and-a-quarter. In quarter horse racing, the races are shorter. They will vary from 270 yards to 870 yards, which is sort of a mile. In some instances, quarter horses might race at 1,000 yards.
Kentucky additionally has two harness racing tracks, Oak Grove Racing in Western Kentucky and The Crimson Mile in Lexington. A 3rd harness monitor, Cumberland Run, is below development in Corbin and is predicted to open later this 12 months.
Like thoroughbred racing, wagering on quarter horses and harness races is pari-mutuel.
