LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Tuesday ratified 2021 race dates while tabling a discussion on penalties that will be applied to violations of a pending rule restricting use of the whip in a race. The KHRC passed on a deliberation of the whip-use penalties due to ongoing discussions between racing constituents about how the penalty schedule should be applied. A new version of the penalties was discussed and approved at a meeting of the KHRC’s Rules Committee three weeks ago, but since then, concerns have emerged over the proper application of the penalties. The full KHRC first approved new restrictions on whip use this summer, but the rules were not expected to go into effect until late in 2020 or early 2021. It was unclear if the delay in discussions over the amended penalties would push back the implementation of those rules further. The ratifications of new rules were part of a full agenda for the Tuesday meeting, held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Also at the meeting, the KHRC approved racing dates for 2021, with the only major difference in the calendar from the approved dates for this year being that the six days awarded to Kentucky Downs will be run over a compact eight-day period in early September. Under the approved dates, Kentucky Downs will run its all-turf meet on Sept. 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12. This year, the track’s six dates were run over a 10-day period. :: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program. Turfway Park, which is now owned by Churchill Downs, requested four days of racing a week in the winter, up from three days per week last year, but the Thursday dates for next year were approved as “optional” live racing dates. Over the past several years, the racing commission has awarded optional race dates to give racetracks leeway in adding race dates based on handle and weather conditions. The remainder of the calendar was substantially similar to previous years, with Keeneland running for three weeks in April and October, and Churchill running three meets: from April 24-June 26; from Sept. 15-Oct. 3; and from Oct. 31-Nov. 28. Ellis Park will run from June 27-Sept. 4. Although the KHRC tabled the riding infraction discussion, the commission did ratify several new rules that also were approved at the Rules Committee meeting three weeks ago, including a requirement that the KHRC’s veterinarian will need to approve the entry of any horse into a race that has never started prior to turning 5 years old, and any horse that has not started within 365 days of its last race. The KHRC also approved a rule that will prohibit a pregnant mare from running in a race within 120 days of her last cover.