With quarter horse racing about to begin in Kentucky, an business commerce group had tabbed a former state lawmaker to function its first govt director.
Adam Koenig has been employed to go up the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Affiliation (KQHRA), in response to 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 Laws Committee for the final six years.
He misplaced his bid for re-election in a major 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 right down to the penny moderately than spherical right 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 business, and we’re grateful he’ll proceed that work on this new function,” 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 help 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 each day operations and be its level particular person in working with lawmakers, regulators, and different stakeholders.
“I’ve spent that point combating for the business, and whereas I haven’t beforehand labored instantly in it, I imagine my relationships within the Legislature, in addition to with the KHRC, will probably 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 shiny future right here.”
Koenig can even work with Revolutionary Racing, which obtained Kentucky’s ninth and closing racing license final 12 months. In partnership with EBCI Holdings, the corporate is constructing a $55 million quarter horse observe and equine heart in Ashland. The northeastern Kentucky venue would be the state’s first quarter horse observe.
Earlier this month, Revolutionary Racing introduced that John Marshall, an skilled observe govt, would function the observe president. Revolutionary Racing plans a six-day meet at The Purple Mile harness observe in Lexington from April 1-6.
“Now we have made nice strides in making Kentucky one of the best 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 serious participant within the equine business. In keeping 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 space 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’ll vary from 270 yards to 870 yards, which is sort of a mile. In some circumstances, quarter horses could race at 1,000 yards.
Kentucky additionally has two harness racing tracks, Oak Grove Racing in Western Kentucky and The Purple Mile in Lexington. A 3rd harness observe, Cumberland Run, is underneath 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.