Churchill Downs Exec Violated Ethics Law

KENTUCKY – As reported by the Thoroughbred Times: "Kentucky's executive branch Ethics Commission ruled on Thursday that Bernie Hettel violated state ethics law when he took a job with Churchill Downs after resigning in January as the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority's executive director and chief racing steward.

"The committee found that Hettel violated a 'revolving door' law that requires upper-level state employees to wait six months after leaving state employment before working for any person or business that does business with the state in the area they regulated.

"Hettel resigned under pressure from Governor Ernie Fletcher's administration on January 14, days after Fletcher replaced the Kentucky Racing Commission with the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.

"…In April, Churchill Downs hired Hettel as a racing consultant…"