The breeders of Kentucky-bred horses winning anywhere, not just within the commonwealth, will now be eligible to receive breeders’ awards because of changes approved May 18 by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC).

The commission approved changes to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders’ Incentive Fund that already had been endorsed by an advisory committee overseeing the fund, including:

• Removing age restrictions on races outside Kentucky;
• Expanding eligible stakes races to races won anywhere in the United States;
• Recognizing Canada’s Woodbine Racecourse under the component for the U.S.;
• Redistributing the Kentucky claiming component to the top 20 claiming horses with the most wins in Kentucky;
• Expanding the international component; and
• Moving the mare nomination deadline to Aug.15 and reducing the fee from Aug. 16-Dec. 31 of the cover year from $750 to $150.

"The action by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission today signals to the racing industry around the world that Kentucky is open and ready to do business with breeders everywhere," said Frank Jones Jr., who, along with Wade Houston, represented the commission on the advisory committee.

Jamie Eads, director of the KHRC’s division of incentives and development, said the changes were necessary for the Kentucky breeders’ awards program to remain competitive. She said Kentucky has an advantage over many of the other programs because it and Louisiana are the only two states that reward breeders for races won outside the state