Kentucky Quarter Horse Association

Actions for 2009

NOW IS THE TIME to contact your legislator on behalf of HB 158, a piece of legislation that is not only good for Kentucky’s Horse Industry but good for the state of Kentucky. Your legislator needs to know how important horses are to your business and your life!

PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR TOLL FREE AT 1-800-372-7181

You will be asked your first name, last name, city. They may confirm your residential address
They will ask who you want the message to go to: ALL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.
Your message: Please support HB158 (They may say the Lottery Bill? Your response: Yes) or click here to send them and email and urge them to pass House Bill 158.

Below is an overview of HB158 and the benefits that can be had with a successful passage:

This bill establishes video lottery terminals (VLTs). Because VLTs are new lottery games and will be overseen by the Kentucky Lottery Commission, there is no need for a constitutional amendment on the expansion of gaming.
It is estimated that the video lottery terminals will provide $700 million in total revenue.
The video lottery terminals may only be located at horse racing tracks licensed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
The video lottery terminals must be placed in limited areas of the tracks where admission can be limited to only those who are over 21 years old.
All video lottery terminals will be connected to lottery headquarters through a computer information network. Though the terminals will be purchased and maintained by the tracks, the lottery will have oversight of each terminal through the network and will have the ability to shut down any terminal or series of terminals as the lottery deems necessary.
Proceeds from the video lottery terminal games will be distributed to the following activities:
- Kentucky taxpayers will no longer pay a state tax on their cars and boats. Under the bill, the state’s share of the motor vehicle and motor boat property tax (approximately $110 million per year) is eliminated and the cost to the General Fund is offset by video lottery terminal revenue.
- Also, a trust fund for drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation is established and funded up to $20 million per year.
- Additionally, up to $20 million per year is distributed to county fiscal courts to offset the cost of housing prisoners in county jails.
- Up to $2.5 million is set aside for a problem gamblers awareness and treatment fund.
- And, up to $1 million per year is designated for the Kentucky PRIDE program.
- Moneys from the video lottery terminal revenue is also designated to support primary education throughout the Commonwealth, but we have not set a ceiling on the amount dedicated to education – the more money we take in through video lottery games, the more education receives. If the $700 million figure is met, education funding will receive roughly $80 million.
12 percent of the revenue generated by video lottery terminals, $84 million, will be used to increase Thoroughbred and Standardbred purses and purse supplements.
$3 million to improve backside facilities.
The Kentucky Quarter Horse Purse Program will receive $770,000.
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders Incentive Fund and the Kentucky Standardbred Breeders Incentive Fund will receive 2.65 percent, $18.6 million, to provide rewards for breeders of horses bred in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Breed Authority will receive $7 million to enhance equine interests for horse breeds in Kentucky for non-racing breeds. This money will be used for equine education, construction and improvement of equine facilities and trails; and economic development. Registered breeds will be able to use the funds for breeder development and racing, show and performance enhancement.

Again, please call your Legislator toll free at 1-800-372-7181 or click here to send them and email.

H.R. 503 Is Not Best For Any Horse

The time is now for American Quarter Horse owners to stand up and be counted. Animal rights groups and wealthy, misguided horse interests are trying to pass legislation that will be detrimental to the welfare of our horses as well as the health of the entire horse industry.

H.R. 503, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, will be voted on in the House of Representatives on September 7th. We must contact our members of Congress before this critical vote and tell them to OPPOSE HR 503. Please call and send a handwritten fax to both the D.C. and district offices at the numbers below.

H.R. 503 is wrongly aimed at closing the three horse processing facilities in the United States. However, this legislation does nothing to provide for the welfare of these unwanted horses should this reckless bill pass.

H.R. 503 is an unfunded mandate failing to address the real issues owners of all horses face. Additionally, the bill blatantly disregards any enforcement measures, meaning nobody will be looking out for America’s Horses. Simply put, H.R. 503 is bad legislation promoted by people who are counting on emotion rather than logic and common sense winning out.

Every major breed registry and the leading veterinary organizations DO NOT SUPPORT 503 because it fails on nearly every front.

Please take a moment to stand up for all horses, including the American Quarter Horse. It is vitally important to the horse industry that you contact your legislator.

For more information, please visit here. Thanks.

How do I contact my state representative or state senator?

By mail: Capitol Annex, Frankfort, KY 40601
By phone: 800-372-7181 (Legislative Message Line), 877-287-3134 (Spanish Line)
This line is staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday - Thursday and Fridays 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the legislative session.
By e-mail: To send a message to your legislator, go to www.lrc.ky.gov. Click on "Who’s My Legislator" by district or county and click to send a note online. Or visit www.vote-smart.org to search by zip code for your legislator. To send a message to all legislators, e-mail legislators2006@lrc.ky.gov

NOTE: We strongly encourage you to e-mail your individual legislator if at all possible.

How do I contact Governor Steve Beshear?

By mail: 700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100, Frankfort, KY 40601
By phone: 502-564-2611
By fax: 502-564-2517
By e-mail: Go to governor.ky.gov/contact.htm and send a note online.