Harness Horse Racing Program
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture offers matching funds to county fairs for harness horse racing purses and fairground facility improvements, supporting agricultural education and community engagement.
Funder: Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Due Dates: October 1, 2026 (County Fair Grant Application) | December 1, 2026 (Final Reporting) | March 1, 2027 (Initial Request for State Aid) | April 1, 2027 (Livestock/Show Information Forms)
Funding Amounts: Up to $7,000 per fair per year for harness racing (max $750 per race, matching basis); County Fair Grants: $10,000–$100,000 (matching, capital projects)
Summary: Matching state funds for Kentucky agricultural fairs to support harness horse racing purses and fairground facility improvements.
Key Information: Strict annual deadlines; eligibility and reporting requirements must be met for payment.
Description
The Harness Horse Racing Program, administered by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA), provides matching state funds to local agricultural fairs in Kentucky to assist with paying purses for harness horse racing events. The program operates as part of the broader State Aid to Local Agricultural Fairs initiative, which also supports capital improvements and other horse and livestock events. The harness racing component is a dedicated funding stream, separate from other fair event programs, and is designed to encourage the continuation and enhancement of harness racing at county fairs by matching local contributions dollar-for-dollar.
