Equine industry left out of paper

The Herald-Leader reported in 2013 that the Kentucky equine business brought in $23.4 billion to our state.

Yet the Herald-Leader hasn’t published regular sports information for equine activities since the abrupt departure of Alicia Winze.

How can you ignore an industry that has such an impact on Kentucky’s bottom line?

There are multiple thoroughbred race tracks, ongoing equine activities at our beloved horse park, multiple horse sales and horse shows and competitions, all of which draw international visitors.

Yet all we get to read about is University of Kentucky sports. Coverage of equine events is seldom about the horse industry in Kentucky.

Thoroughbred racing is practically year round in this state, yet, except for a few posting of day-old results from (mostly) Keeneland, coverage is sparse. Some of us would love to cheer on the locally raised or bred horses in the Derby, Belmont or Preakness. Yet we are left on our own to find information on them.

Jockeys get virtually no coverage; neither do owners, grooms or trainers.

We have the best of the equine industry here, right here in Kentucky. Why has the Herald-Leader chosen to ignore it?

This story was originally published January 29, 2018 at 7:08 PM with the headline "Equine industry left out of paper."