The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) on June 8 unanimously rejected a request from trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. to withdraw his application for a license to race in the state in 2011.

Dutrow, who is facing disciplinary action in New York, had his license application rejected by the KHRC’s license review committee on April 13 after a one-hour hearing in which Dutrow was questioned about the lengthy list of violations on his record–including numerous equine prohibited substance violations–and inconsistencies on his license applications this year and in previous years. Dutrow’s attorneys have appealed that decision. 

In a June 7 letter to KHRC general counsel Susan Speckert, attorney Garland "Andy" Barr asked that Dutrow be permitted to withdraw his license application and that such action be communicated to the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) with a notation that the withdrawal "shall not constitute a denial or suspension of a license and is without prejudice." 

Generally, withdrawal of a license application would be viewed differently than would a license rejection when other jurisdictions consider whether to take similar actions against Dutrow under reciprocity agreements that are honored between states