The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Aug. 17 approved a proposed increase in Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund registration fees for foals, yearlings, and stallions to help fund recurring reproductive-related research.
The fee increase was recommended by the KTDF Advisory Committee at its Aug. 3 meeting.
Chauncey Morris, executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association-Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, which oversees KTDF registrations of Kentucky-sired and -foaled horses, has said they seek to raise $160,000 each year for the research. Of that amount, 100% will go toward funding research on new and emerging threats in the Kentucky breeding industry.
"Everything that we take in as far as fee increase we turn back over to what we've sought approval from the racing commission to use these funds for," Morris said Tuesday. "Along similar lines, the recurring $160,000 will be used for emergent proactive steps to try to look and fund equine research for reproductive health."
The proposed changes in KTDF registration fees are for foal registration to increase to $75 from $60, yearlings to increase to $100 from $75, and stallions to increase to an ascending range of $400-$850 from $350. Horses of racing age remain unchanged at $350.
The KHRC Tuesday also approved two new wagers for the Keeneland fall meet: a Super Hi-5 wager with a $1 minimum bet and a carryover provision, and a turf-only Pick 3 wager with a $3 minimum bet, with no minor pool or carryover.
