KEEP Applauds Chairman Koenig and the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee for Advancing Sports Wagering Legislation

KEEP Applauds Chairman Koenig and the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee for Advancing Sports Wagering Legislation

Lexington, Ky. (Thursday, January 16, 2020) – The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) applauds Chairman Adam Koenig and the House Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations Committee for advancing House Bill 137 to the House floor with an unanimous vote.

KEEP is thankful for Chairman Koenig’s longtime leadership on this issue and for Representative Al Gentry’s work on this bipartisan bill. KEEP also appreciates Governor Beshear’s vocal support for this legislation in his State of the Commonwealth address earlier this week.

Elisabeth Jensen, KEEP’s Executive Vice President who oversees the daily operations of the organization, commented, “We all understand that this will not solve the Commonwealth’s budget challenges. However, this legislation ensures that Kentucky will be competitive with our neighboring states, while protecting our signature industry. HB 137 will give us an opportunity to attract sports fans to our state’s racetracks and allow them to place sports wagers in a safe and trusted environment.”

KEEP encourages legislators to support this popular, bipartisan legislation when it is considered on the House floor.

ABOUT KEEP
The Kentucky Equine Education Project, Kentucky’s equine economic advocate, is a not-for-profit grassroots organization created in 2004 to preserve, promote and protect Kentucky’s signature multi-breed horse industry. KEEP is committed to ensuring Kentucky remains the horse capital of the world, including educating Kentuckians and elected officials of the importance of the horse industry to the state. KEEP was the driving force in the establishment of the Kentucky Breeders Incentive Fund, which has paid out more than $141 million to Kentucky breeders since its inception in 2006, and pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing, which has been responsible for more than $32 million to purses and more than $24 million to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

KEEP works to strengthen the horse economy in Kentucky through our statewide network of citizen advocates. To learn more about how you can become a member or support our work, please visit www.horseswork.com.