KEEP

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) unanimously elected to their board Shannon Cobb to serve as chair and Rob Tribbett to serve as vice chair, the non-profit said in a release Wednesday. The pair will replace Case Clay and David Ingordo, who will both continue their service on the KEEP Board. Cobb, the Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Red Mile Racing and Gaming, and Tribbett, Vice President of the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association in Lexington, Kentucky, and General Manager of Watercress Farm in Paris, Kentucky, bring a wealth...

Over $33,000 in scholarships were awarded to Kentucky equine students for 2023, courtesy of The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation, and The Race For Education (RFE). The KEEP Foundation's board of directors approved scholarships for 16 students attending equine programs at universities across the Commonwealth. All of the 2023 scholarship recipients are students currently enrolled at a university or college in Kentucky in either an equine and/or agriculture related major or their parents work in the equine industry. In addition to the aforementioned 16 Kentucky students, the Race For...

Over $12,000 has been awarded to Kentucky equine non-profits by the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation's new Seattle Slew Grant Program. Recipients of the inaugural grants are The Ed Brown Society, Frankie's Corner Little Thoroughbred Crusade, and the Paris Bourbon County YMCA. Available to Kentucky non-profits providing equine educational programs, events, and initiatives, the Seattle Slew Grant Program is part of the Foundation's efforts to support education and promote the importance of the equine industry to Kentucky's economy and culture. "The KEEP Foundation is honored to support these exceptional...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation has launched its new Seattle Slew grant program available to Kentucky non-profits, equine educational programs, events and initiatives. The program is part of the Foundation's efforts to support education and promote the importance of the equine industry to Kentucky's economy and culture. "Kentucky's equine industry is a vital part of our state's heritage and economy," Katie LaMonica, KEEP Foundation Board Chair said. "We believe it's important to support educational programs and projects that foster awareness of the industry and its contributions to our...

Just before the Kentucky State Legislature was to adjourn Thursday evening, House Bill 551--legislation to legalize, regulate and tax sports betting in the Commonwealth of Kentucky that seemed a longshot as late as Thursday morning--passed the Kentucky State Senate by a vote of 25-12. Governor Andy Beshear was to sign the legislation, which required 23 votes in favor, into law Friday morning. "After years of urging lawmakers to legalize sports betting, we finally did it!" Beshear tweeted Thursday evening. "Today's result shows that hard work pays off. Kentuckians will soon...

The Senate has passed House Bill 594, which will outlaw the unregulated and untaxed gaming machines known as "gray machines" in Kentucky. The bill passed in a 29-6 vote and now heads to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's desk. The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) released the following statement Tuesday. "KEEP applauds the Kentucky General Assembly for the passage of HB 594, legislation that will ban illegal gray machines. Getting this bill across the finish line was an incredible effort and KEEP is grateful to the legislators who supported the bill...

by Sara Gordon and Katie Petrunyak Many of the nearly 250 people attending the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club's (KTFMC) monthly meeting, held Tuesday evening at the Keeneland sales pavilion, were unfamiliar with the unregulated and untaxed gaming machines known as "gray machines." The risk these gray machines pose to historical horse racing (HHR) gaming and the state's horse racing industry as a whole were the main topic of the meeting that included a discussion and Q and A session of Central Kentucky legislators. In a panel moderated by the...

The KEEP Board of Directors voted to add three individuals to the board Friday, Feb. 3. The new board members are: Hallie Hardy - Executive Director of Horse Country Kim Smith - Founder and Executive Director of Second Stride and Owner and Operator of Moserwood Farms Rob Tribbett - Vice President of the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association and General Manager of Watercress Farm Additionally, the KEEP Board of Directors elected Shannon Cobb to serve as vice chair of the board. Cobb is the COO/CFO of the Red Mile in...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project's (KEEP) Board of Directors announced that long-time consultant Will Glasscock will be promoted to executive director beginning Jan 1. Additionally, Elisabeth Jensen who stepped down from that position in Sept. will serve as a consultant, assisting KEEP in managing board relations, industry stakeholders and with long-term strategic planning. Growing up in Kentucky, Glasscock attended the College of Charleston and the George Washington University before working for nearly nine years in congressional offices and as the director of government relations for a national trade association. Case...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP)'s executive vice president, Elisabeth Jensen, will retire from her position at the end of the year. During Jensen's leadership, which began in 2018, she oversaw the daily operations of the organization and was integral in expanding KEEP to address new issues facing the industry, as well as advancing the goal of preserving and promoting the horse industry's role as Kentucky's signature industry. KEEP is a highly visible advocate in Frankfort, Ky. and Washington, D.C. for both expanding the number of visas available to the...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) announced that it will host a horse industry advocacy event at Midway University Tuesday, Sept. 6, from 5-7 p.m. Participants in Kentucky's signature horse industry are invited to attend to learn about legislative issues that can impact their equine business, how to engage in the legislative process, and how to best communicate with lawmakers. In addition to representatives from KEEP and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, speakers include Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas and Representative Matt Koch. Candidates...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation has launched a youth grant program in order to help support youth who want to become involved with or continue their involvement in the equine industry. Youth grants of up to $500 are available to individuals ages 21 and under who want to attend an equine educational opportunity in Kentucky. "We are excited to provide this opportunity to Kentucky's youth," said Alexandra Harper, executive director of the KEEP Foundation. "The equine industry depends on the next generation of equine enthusiasts to become involved...