There's an effort underway to bring the paint horse breed into the racing mix in Kentucky. Legislation to clear the way for paints to participate in sprint horse racing is making its way through the Kentucky General Assembly. Rich Wilke is with the American Quarter Horse Association. "This is the kind of racing that never goes more than a half a mile. A thousand yards is the most they ever go, so that would be quarter horses predominantly, but also paints and appaloosas. They are the other major sprint breeds," said Wilke.
Keeneland officials are considering establishing a sprint track in the Corbin area. Wilke says surveys show there are some 75,000paint horses within a 100 mile radius of Corbin. Wilke says the legislation would bring with it an economic boost. "Where ever there's any kind of competition, there's always an incentive to breed better horses, so if we have paint racing in Kentucky, there's no question that that would stimulate paint breeding," added Wilke.
Wilke says lower profile thoroughbreds with what he calls 'cheap speed' are sometimes bred with paints. "They have speed, but nobody really cares that much, so they can cross legally with paints and so I think they'll be a big demand for that and it will be an economic boost," said Wilke.
The bill has passed out of a House committee.
