As executive director, Koenig will oversee the group\u2019s daily operations and be its point person in working with lawmakers, regulators, and other stakeholders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have spent that time fighting for the industry, and while I haven\u2019t previously worked directly in it, I believe my relationships in the legislature, as well as with the KHRC, will be very helpful for horse owners,” he said in a statement. \u201cI look forward to working with everyone to ensure quarter horses have a bright future here.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Koenig will also work with Revolutionary Racing, which received Kentucky\u2019s ninth and final racing license last year. In partnership with EBCI Holdings, the company is building a $55 million quarter horse track and equine center in Ashland. The northeastern Kentucky venue will be the state\u2019s first quarter horse track.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Earlier this month, Revolutionary Racing announced that John Marshall, an experienced track executive, would serve as the track president. Revolutionary Racing plans a six-day meet at The Red Mile harness track in Lexington from April 1-6.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have made great strides in making Kentucky the best place to race and breed in the world,\u201d Koenig said. \u201cThe missing piece has been quarter horses, so to be part of the beginning of that is truly exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Primer: Horse Racing in Kentucky<\/h2>\n The Bluegrass State is a major player in the equine industry. According to data from the association, it is home to 30,000 quarter horses owned by more than 10,000 people.<\/p>\n
Kentucky, of course, is best known for thoroughbred racing. That includes the Kentucky Derby, the most popular race in the US. The state\u2019s thoroughbred circuit consists of five tracks: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ellis Park in Henderson, Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky Downs in Franklin, and Turfway Park in Florence.<\/p>\n
Quarter horses are shorter and stockier than their thoroughbred cousins, but they\u2019re also faster. But the biggest difference between the two breeds is the distance they race. Most thoroughbred races range from six furlongs (three-quarters of a mile) to a mile-and-a-quarter. In quarter horse racing, the races are shorter. They can range from 270 yards to 870 yards, which is nearly a mile. In some cases, quarter horses may race at 1,000 yards.<\/p>\n
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Kentucky also has two harness racing tracks, Oak Grove Racing in Western Kentucky and The Red Mile in Lexington. A third harness track, Cumberland Run, is under construction in Corbin and is expected to open later this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Like thoroughbred racing, wagering on quarter horses and harness races is pari-mutuel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With quarter horse racing about to start in Kentucky, an industry trade group had tabbed a former state lawmaker to serve as its first executive director. Adam Koenig has been hired to head up the Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association (KQHRA), according to a statement the organization released on Tuesday. Koenig was a state lawmaker […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":255489,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33810,14577],"tags":[81900,82033],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Adam Koenig, Ex-Kentucky Lawmaker, to Lead State Quarter Horse Group<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n