Beshear implements horse racing regulation

WKMS | By The Associated Press

Published August 31, 2012 at 8:32 AM CDT

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is using his executive authority to implement a regulation allowing only government veterinarians to administer race-day drugs to horses. Thursday’s action comes days after the proposed regulation appeared stymied by objections from state lawmakers. Beshear says it's in the racing industry's interest to let the rule take effect. Republican State Senator Damon Thayer praised the governor’s action. He says it sends the message that Kentucky will be at the forefront of efforts to change perceptions about the use of drugs in horse racing. The regulation would also set lower amounts of some medications given to horses within days before a race.

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Todd Hatton

Todd Hatton hails from Paducah, Kentucky, where he got into radio under the auspices of the late, great John Stewart of WKYX while a student at Paducah Community College. He also worked at WKMS in the reel-to-reel tape days of the early 1990s before running off first to San Francisco, then Orlando in search of something to do when he grew up. He received his MFA in Creative Writing at Murray State University. He vigorously resists adulthood and watches his wife, Angela Hatton, save the world one plastic bottle at a time.

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