Each member will be required to be licensed in each of the states where the team’s horse races. Horses will be prepared for their first race in Kentucky with the intention of starting their racing careers at one of the major venues (Keeneland Racecourse, Churchill Downs) in the Bluegrass State. Subsequent races may also be in Kentucky, but could be at tracks including Arlington Park, Turf Paradise, Hollywood Park, Santa Anita, or The Fair Grounds in the states of Illinois, Arizona, California, and Louisiana. Other tracks and states are less likely, but are possible as well if the right races and racing conditions exist.
Honor Roll Racing recommends initially getting licensed in the state of Kentucky using the National Racing Compact. This is the simplest way to get licensed in multiple states when you need to expand your licensure beyond the state of Kentucky. For a fee of $225, the National Racing Compact will handle the transfer of information from state to state for licensing for a period of 3 years. When you need a license in a new state, a phone call and payment of that state’s fee is all that is required. Automatic license renewal is handled by the compact as well. Fingerprints are not required in Kentucky, but you will need to get fingerprinted so that they can be sent to states that do require them. Application for national licensure through the compact can be found at www.racinglicense.com.
Owners also have the option of getting licensed through each state's racing commission or authority. In Kentucky, the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority handles licensing. Applications for licensure can be found at www.khra.ky.gov. It is possible that your horse could only race in Kentucky, making this option the most economical.
*Honor Roll Racing team members discuss race tactics at Churchill Downs.
