Steve Beshear, former Governor of Kentucky, and Jane Beshear, former First Lady of Kentucky, joined the Water Hay Oats Alliance in support of federal legislation to bring national uniformity in medication policy. The Beshears have advocated for the cause publicly, particularly during their time in office from 2007-2015. The couple offered the following:
Horses are part of Kentucky's DNA.
Economically, the equine industry–and in particular, Thoroughbred breeding and racing–is a signature industry on which thousands of Kentuckians rely for their livelihood. Culturally, racing is part of not only our heritage but also our very identity. That's why people call Kentucky the Horse Capital of the World.
So there is no state in this nation with more at stake as the horse racing industry wrestles with the issue of race-day medication and its impact on safety, integrity, and trust.
In the years we were Kentucky's Governor and First Lady, we strongly supported and still support the national reform effort pushed by the Water Hay Oats Alliance and others to bring rigor and consistency to the regulation of performance enhancing and performance-affecting drugs.
My administration took many steps that put us at the forefront of addressing this issue. But the industry is at the point where meaningful further progress requires movement on a national level. We need federal legislation that creates uniform medication rules as well as common testing rules and procedures, consistent enforcement and the creation of a national medication regulatory authority.
As an industry, we must come together behind this effort. Our future depends upon it.
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