Susan Speckert will assume the role at the helm of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation on August 19.
The long road to legal sports betting in the Bluegrass State finally began when Kentucky sportsbooks started accepting bets last September. The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (KHRGC) took over the tasks of regulating the new legal Kentucky sports betting market from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on July 1, and that governing body will have a new leader in the next month.
Susan Speckert was announced as the KHRGC’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer on Tuesday.
KHRGC President & CEO Jamie Eads said:
“Susan’s commitment to and knowledge of the horse racing industry is well known. Her professional experience makes her uniquely qualified to serve as the KHRGC’s first COO.”
Speckert had previously served as General Counsel of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and most recently served as the Commissioner of Law for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.
“I am honored to work alongside the outstanding team at the KHRGC to ensure Kentucky continues to lead in protecting the health, safety, and welfare of horses, riders and all participants as well as the wagering public,” Speckert said. “I am grateful to the Board of Directors and President & CEO Jamie Eads for the opportunity to come full circle in my career to serve the sport I dearly love.”
View from the top
Kentucky has a long history of horse racing, with the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby setting new betting records this past spring. But legal sports betting kept hitting roadblocks until Governor Andy Beshear’s time in office.
Beshear was a long-time proponent of online sports betting, and finally got HB 551 passed in March 2023 to bring the legal market to life. The Democrat won re-election in November, which paves the way for another gubernatorial term that’s favorable to sports betting in Kentucky.
Kentucky sportsbooks combined to haul in $624.9 million in wagers and $66.9 million in revenue from March through May of this year too, contributing to just under $18 million in year-to-date tax revenue for the state.
Circa Sports became the eighth online sportsbook in Kentucky when it launched in May as well, so Speckert’s tenure with the KHRGC seems to be starting off at an opportune time.
