Owner Bio
Joel B. Turner, Member, FROST BROWN TODD LLC, Louisville, KY
Joel B. Turner is involved in a full range of equine legal services; syndicate, co-ownership, partnership and limited liability company agreements, equine lending documentation, purchase and sale agreements, private and public placements, administrative hearings and appeals, gaming regulatory matters, tax and estate planning, and litigation. He is knowledgeable in racing legislation and horse showing (USEF/FEI) regulation in the United States and is actively working with horsemen throughout the country to attend to the needs of breeders, owners and trainers. His knowledge of the horse industry allows him to handle legal matters within the industry efficiently and successfully. Notable accomplishments include:
(1) Purchase/Sale of race horses valued in excess of $150 million, including Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Dubai World Cup, and Breeders’ Cup Winners, Eclipse Award Champions, and show horses in excess of $2.5 million; (2) Passage of Florida HB 1427 to regulate deceptive practices in horse sales (2007/2008); (3) Preparation of multiple clients for Congressional Hearing in Washington, D.C. regarding The State of Thoroughbred Horseracing and The Welfare of the Thoroughbred (October 10, 2008); (4) Representation of USET members and candidates for US Olympic Teams; and (5) two favorable State Supreme Court decisions for equine clients.
EXPERIENCE Licensed Thoroughbred Owner/Trainer. Adjunct Professor 2005-2008 - University of Louisville Equine Administration Program; Instructor - Stewards Accreditation Program; Oak Tree/Santa Anita; ROAP/University of Louisville (2009) and the ARCI Annual Drug Testing and Quality Assurance Program. TOBA – New Owners Seminar Speaker for 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Mr. Turner and his wife currently live on a small thoroughbred farm in Prospect, Kentucky. He organizes pinhooking and racing co-ownerships, LLCs, and races certain of his home-breds in Kentucky and elsewhere.
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
“Asset Protection Planning for Your Horse Operation” KHC/KENA (November 2011)
“Top Ten Recommendations for Prepurchase Veterinary Exams” Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) / KentuckyHorse.org; ProfitableHorseman.com (May 2011)
“Leasing Thoroughbreds; Key Issues for Tax Practitioners” American Horse Council Tax Bulletin (January 2010)
“Leasing Racehorses/Federal Tax Considerations: Avoiding Re-
Characterization” American Horse Council Tax Bulletin (March 2009)
“Never Fear, the Tax Man’s Here!” From the Horse’s Mouth Magazine (April 2009) Interview by Lisa Kemp
“Farm Bill” (Bill’s passage benefits owners), The Blood-Horse MarketWatch (August 14, 2008)
“Boarder Beware” (Kentucky statute saddles owners with the heavy burden of proving negligence), KY QHA (Summer 2008)
“Final Turn – It Just Is” (in the defense of horsemen), The Blood-Horse (May 17, 2008)
“Tax Equity Act” a news feature discussing legislation pending before the U.S. Congress with tax provisions favorable to the horse industry appearing in The Blood-Horse Market Watch (November 18, 2005)
“Liability of Agent(s) of Buyer of Bloodstock for Taking Undisclosed Kickbacks from Sellers or Consignors” presented to the Kentucky Bar Association, Equine Section (October 12, 2005)
“Tax Planning Opportunity” a news feature on the 2003 Tax Act and the favorable provisions for the equine industry, in the Blood-Horse (July 12, 2003)
“Like Kind Exchanges of Equine Assets: An Often Overlooked Tax Planning Opportunity" National Conference on Equine Law at the University of Kentucky (May 2000)
“Equine Industry Report: Medication Issues and Varying Treatments of the Split Sample Rule" National Conference on Equine Law, University of Kentucky (May 1994)
jturner@fbtlaw.com; Office: 502.568.0392;
Cell: 502.802.8808; Fax: 502.581.1087
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS (Continued)
"Warranties: The Purchase and Sale of Equine Assets," 10 Louisville Lawyer 10 (Spring 1990)
"Thoroughbred Horse Racing and Breeding as a Tax Sheltered Investment: Recent Tax Law Developments," 13 Golden Gate University, L. Rev. 399 (1983)
PRACTICE AREAS
Equine Law Corporate and Business Business & Commercial Litigation Litigation
EDUCATION
Golden Gate University
JD, 1984 - Cum Laude
Associate Editor, Golden Gate University Law Review
1983-1984
University of California, Berkeley
BA, English/Russian Literature 1976 - Cum Laude
Chauncey Whetmore Wells Award Recipient (Best Senior Thesis in UC English Department)
IRA Championship, Varsity Crew 1976
BAR MEMBERSHIPS
American Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association
COURTS
U.S. Supreme Court
Kentucky, 1984
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Chairman, University of Kentucky National Equine Law Conference 2006-2010
President, American College of Equine Attorneys 2009-present
KBA Equine Law Section, Chairman 2001-2003
Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners, Past President
Thoroughbred Club of America, KTA, TOBA, KHC, and AHC Member
American Horse Council, Tax Bulletin Advisory Board Member and contributing writer
KENA Planning Committee 2010-Present
