Keeneland Race Course and Turfway Park have banned most traction devices for both front and hind horseshoes for training and racing at the facilities.

The policy will not allow toe grabs, caulks, stickers, inserts, blocks, turndowns, trailers or heel extensions. The only permitted shoes will be flat, Queen’s Plate, and Queen’s Plate XT or their equivalents. Queen’s Plate XT shoes have a two-millimeter raised toe.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission had earlier this week adopted a recommendation from The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Safety Committee outlawing all but the shortest toe grabs for front shoes. The Kentucky commission and Thoroughbred Safety Committee have not addressed the use of traction devices for hind shoes.  

Keeneland Association is a co-owner of Turfway, and both tracks have Polytrack main surfaces.