A leading Senate Republican is calling for a new audit of the Kentucky Horse Park to review what he claims has been mismanagement at the popular tourist attraction.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer made the accusations in a Senate speech Friday.
Thayer alleges that under former Democratic Governor Steve Beshear, the Horse Park was used as a political patronage tool, pointing out its current executive director Jamie Link previously served as Beshear’s Chief of Staff and in one of his final executive orders, Beshear appointed his wife, Jane, to the Kentucky Horse Park Commission. The Republican majority floor leader introduced a bill to revamp the membership of that oversight board. He expects his bill to be heard by a committee sometime this week.
A horse park spokeswoman referred questions to the state Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. Cabinet Secretary Don Parkinson says he supports an updated audit.