Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Approves Jockey Ad Regulations

Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Approves Jockey Ad Regulations

Published June 9, 2010

KHRC Approves Jockey Ad Regulations

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission "has unanimously approved new regulations on jockey advertising, requiring that any agreements between riders, owners, and sponsors, file those documents with the regulatory body," according to Ron Mitchell of BLOODHORSE. The KHRC yesterday "approved the new regulations with a stipulation that they be implemented as emergency regulations," and KHRC Exec Dir Lisa Underwood said that they "would go into effect June 15." Under previous regulations, the commission rules stipulated "various conditions that must be met by the respective parties before the advertisements, in the form of logos worn by the jockeys on their pants, could be used." In addition to requiring that the agreements be filed with the KHRC, the new regulations also "provide for written approval before someone else could act as agent on behalf of an owner in connection with the ads, and provide that any advertising agreements must be approved two days prior to the race card where the ads are to appear." Jockeys' Guild National Manager Terry Meyocks said that "several aspects of the regulations, including releasing the terms of the agreements to the commission, will have a negative impact" (BLOODHORSE.com, 6/8). DAILY RACING FORM's Matt Hegarty reported the regulations "will still need to pass legislative review," though they will "go into effect immediately." Jockeys' Guild attorney Mindy Coleman said that the organization "will explore whether to file objections to the new amendment as it goes through the legislature" (DRF.com, 6/8). In Louisville, Gregory Hall notes representatives of jockeys, owners, trainers and Churchill Downs "all have objected to the disclosure provision, saying many sponsors may not want that to be disclosed to a state agency and, possibly, the public" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 6/9).