Kentucky Equine Education Project

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...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project will offer a limited edition "The Color of Silk" print in recognition of Black History Month. The print commemorates the Jockey Silks Art Project featuring the racing silks worn by African American jockeys who won 16 Kentucky Derby races held from 1875 to 1902. Nine of the jockeys were born in Kentucky. Seven of the Thoroughbreds they rode were trained by African Americans. "The Color of Silk" is a product of a living and learning community at UK, LEXengaged, that brought together William Wells Brown...

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...

Was it divine intervention? As the story goes, sometime in late 1923 or early 1924, a Kentucky pastor, Rev. Dr. Thomas Settle, convinced some state legislators in Frankfort not to end legalized gambling in Kentucky by repealing parimutuel wagering, much to the relief of the Kentucky Jockey Club and other concerned horsemen. Most ministers may have taken the opposite tack at the time, but not Dr. Settle, and this made him stand out. A well-travelled Englishman who'd found his way to a small congregation on Main St. and Bell Ct....

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) Foundation and The Race For Education (RFE) have announced their 2022 scholarship recipients. KEEP granted 13 scholarships worth $30,000 to students attending nine different Kentucky universities for 2022. Eligible recipients for KEEP scholarships must be currently enrolled at a school in Kentucky in either an equine and/or agriculture related major or their parents must work in the equine industry. Additionally, the RFE awarded its annual Robert J. Frankel Scholarship to two New York state students: Anitza Parilla and Francis Marrone. Named in honor of...

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...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project will host its annual KEEP Day in Frankfort Thursday. KEEP Day in Frankfort provides KEEP grassroots members, industry leaders, breed associations, and other industry partners an opportunity to share with Kentucky lawmakers the importance of horses to their legislative districts and the state's economy. The event will take place from 9 a.m.-10:45 a.m. in Room 113 in the Capitol Annex. "Kentucky's horse industry and community create an annual economic impact on the state of $6.5 billion," said Elisabeth Jensen, KEEP's executive vice president. "More important,...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation has announced the hiring of Alexandra Harper as its new executive director. "I'm excited about taking the reins as Executive Director," Harper said. "I look forward to taking the KEEP Foundation to the next level through enhanced fundraising efforts and educational events, continued workforce development initiative, and expanding the efforts toward making the industry more accessible. I've spent my entire professional and personal life in this industry and I can't wait to see what we can accomplish as we work together toward the...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project Foundation and The Race for Education have announced the recipients of their 2021 scholarships. The KEEP Foundation board of directors approved over $35,000 in scholarships to 11 students attending 10 universities across the Commonwealth. All of the 2021 scholarship recipients are students currently enrolled with a university or college in Kentucky in an equine and/or agriculture related major. The 11 students are: Ambre Azcona-University of Kentucky; Lily Crouch-University of Kentucky; Aleah Gardner-Morehead State University; Harrison Goode-University of Kentucky; Wheaton Hardwick-Kentucky Community & Technical College; Emma...

A Pari-Mutuel Wagering Taxation Task Force has been established in the Kentucky General Assembly to "study the taxes and rates related to horse racing, the impact that changing the rates would have, and the funds relating to the horse industry which receive historical horse racing tax receipts [and] determine if any changes should be made." The task force will be co-chaired by Kentucky State Senator Damon Thayer and House of Representatives member Adam Koenig. The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) issued a statement in support of the action Tuesday: "The...

Edited Press Release Officials at the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), Kentucky's equine economic advocate, have announced the new leadership of KEEP's Board of Directors. The Board of Directors unanimously approved the promotion of Case Clay to become the Board's Chairman, while Kentucky horseman David Ingordo was unanimously approved to become the Board's Vice Chairman. Clay and Ingordo replace Doug Cauthen and Ken Jackson, respectively, who will both continue serving on the KEEP Board. Additionally, Courtney Schneider was added to the Board of Directors. Clay is the Chief Commercial Officer...