The Kentucky Horse Park's concern is that individuals who are in violation of SafeSport could be on the property for other events, or simply as visitors — permitting them to possibly mix in with the crowd and come into contact with the young athletes they are supposed to avoid.
"It's feasible that someone could be on the premises, be disciplined the U.S. Center for SafeSport, but not be there for an equine activity. They could be a camper, a tourist, whatever. And because we are an outdoor facility, 1,200 acres, it's very hard to restrict individual movement throughout the park," Horse Park Executive Director Lee Carter said. "So there's opportunity that this bad actor could cross over with those they should not be near."
Events that fall under the umbrella of SafeSport make up 75 percent of the horse park's equine event revenue. The park wants to allow its mounted police to remove anyone who has been sanctioned by SafeSport.
Currently the list is small. Of the nearly 2,500 people who have been cited across a wide array of sporting events covered under SafeSport, only 82 fall in the equestrian category. But the park says it's important that it has the ability to track and remove those individuals — and any future violators added to the list — from the premises.
A bill granting them that authority will be up for consideration in 2026.