Ethics Council told the state’s new racing commission executive director that his racehorses can continue to compete in Louisiana, at least until he needs a new license in 2026.

Stephen Landry became the top Louisiana Racing Commission staff member in March after Gov. Jeff Landry appointed new members to the board. Stephen Landry, who is not related to the governor, owns a third of two racehorses and a half of another.

The commission is responsible for the regulation of horse racing and betting in Louisiana. It issues licenses to racetracks, training centers, off-site horse betting operations and horse owners like Stephen Landry.

Commissioners can also suspend and revoke property licenses previously granted.

The ethics board said state law is “silent” on whether Landry can own racehorses while serving as the commission’s executive director. However, state employees are prohibited from doing business with the agencies they work for.

By that logic, the ethics board said Landry would not be able to apply for a license to be a racehorse owner while serving as executive director of the racing commission.

“Applying for a license is a transaction within the agency’s oversight or jurisdiction,” ethics commission attorney Mallory Guillot wrote in a draft advisory opinion approved members. “Therefore, Mr. Landry is prohibited by (state law) from applying for a license from the Louisiana Racing Commission.”

Dane Ciolino, an attorney who represented Landry before the ethics board, said his client was pleased with the board’s decision. Landry does not need a new racehorse license until 2026 and should be able to continue his work.

“He had a license before he took the job,” Ciolino said in a phone interview last week. “It would cause problems if they had to get a license.”

Landry did not return phone calls to this government office for comment.

Landry proactively sought the ethics board’s opinion on horse ownership after the Paulick Report, a horse racing news outlet, raised concerns about him he took over the position of director of the commission.

“How should it investigate and recommend to its commissioners potential changes to the state’s breeder incentive program objectively?” editor-in-chief Natalie Voss wrote about Landry in a comment from june on the Paulick Report. “What will he do if he is alerted (by a co-owner of his horse) that a possible rule violation is being investigated by staff? How would he handle a disqualification challenge from one of his active (or recent) partners?”

“The Model Rules of the International Race Stewards Association expressly prohibit this, both for employees of a commission (such as the executive director) and for employees under the executive director,” Voss added.

However, racing commission chairman Ed Koehl told Landry when he took over as executive director that he could own horses without fear of conflict, Ciolino said. in a letter to the ethics committee.

The commission, and not the executive director, votes on whether to grant or revoke a property license.

Under a new law approved earlier this yearall 13 state racing commissioners who decide on property licensing can own racehorses that compete in Louisiana. Previously, only three of the 13 commissioners were allowed to own racehorses.