Horses and Kentucky: How the Industry Came to the Bluegrass (Part 2)
In part 1 of this series, we took a long look into Kentucky’s history, from prehistoric North America, up to the 1800s, and discussed how horses, and the horse industry, found their way to Kentucky. But ever since the arrival of horses in the bluegrass, there has been a symbiotic relationship between the equine world and the booming business that has followed on its bouncing tail. For as much as Kentucky has given to the horse industry, and as much as our state has developed and refined the myriad ways horses enrich our world (and their owners), the industry has also given a king’s ransom to our state in monetary and reputable gain.
Though some around the globe might think first of the noble chicken (in its fried, crispy form) when they consider famous Kentucky animals, ubiquitous terms like Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Thoroughbred are known the world over for good reason. Within the borders of our beloved bluegrass, horses make for business of Clydesdale-sized proportions. This mammoth industry takes many forms, including sales, recreation, competitions, and of course racing.
All of this horse business creates over 60 thousand Kentucky jobs. These can be anything from horse breeders or trainers to veterinarians and animal scientists, to groundskeepers, accountants, and hospitality. And that’s just the tip of the horseshoe.
According to Kentuckybred.org, Kentucky thoroughbred sales generate a yearly boon of more than $760 million for the state, with legendary horse racing and sales venue Keeneland responsible for the stallion’s share. This equates directly to $115 million in tax revenue alone, and a staggering $1 billion impact on labor income, for a grand $2.7 billion value of industry production.
On the recreational and tourism side of things, there are 14,600 Kentucky jobs that are at least related to the equine industry, while 5,828 of those are directly involved. This equates to $209 million in quantifiable, monetary value added to the state of Kentucky every year.
Although horse competitions are not as squarely placed in the public eye as horse racing, they are a dominant factor in Kentucky’s overall economy. One of the competition sector’s greatest assets is its simple ability to bring people in from beyond our borders. Competition travel, food and lodging, and event expenses bring $156 million to our state every year. With just under 8 thousand jobs provided, this sector of the industry adds another $310 million worth of direct value to the state through employment.
Of course, who can overlook the flash and extravagance of Kentucky’s majestic horse racing scene? With over 24 thousand direct jobs provided, the employment behind racing adds $832 million in direct state value. Meanwhile, the racing operations have a $517 million impact on our state’s economy. In 2019, the world-famous Kentucky Derby, paired with its lesser-known-but-still-massive opening act Kentucky Oaks, is estimated to have made a $356 million economic impact on Kentucky. That’s a lot of dough for roughly two minutes of horse racing.
Roll it all up into one, comprehensive ball of hay, and you’ve got a $6.5 billion impact on the state. It’s safe to say that horses are carrying Kentuckians, even those who don’t ride, in a multitude of ways.