Lisa Underwood Young, who served as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission from 2006 until 2011, passed away at her home Dec. 9 of a heart attack, Blood-Horse reported. She was 57.
During her tenure at the KHRC, Underwood Young spearheaded a number of initiatives, including tougher testing and penalties for medication violations; the hiring of the KHRC's first equine medical director and supervisor of parimutuel racing; and the introduction of historical racing machines.
“She was an amazing lady,” current KHRC Executive Director Mark Guilfoil told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “What she accomplished in five years; she wasn't scared to tackle anything… She upped the game in everything we had. She hired the first supervisor of parimutuel wagering we ever had, even though the rule had been on the books forever. She was a very sharp lady and a good person… She did the right thing, constantly, no matter how unpopular it was.”
Underwood Young was a partner in the Lexington office of the law firm Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs, where she headed the firm's Data Privacy & Security team and specialized in equine and gaming law. She is survived by her husband Richard Young; her father, former mayor pro tem Tom Underwood; and her brother Trip Underwood.
A funeral will be held Thursday, Dec. 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Church Cathedral with interment following at the Lexington Cemetery. Visitation will take place at the church Dec. 14 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Old Friends Farm or the Race Track Chaplaincy of America.
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