Reports indicate that the Kentucky Standardbred Advisory Panel has approved changes to existing regulations that pertain to mare residency rules, getting one step closer to allowing horses to race in the Kentucky Sires Stakes program without a Kentucky-based sire.

According to harnessracing.com, Thursday's vote, which passed by a margin of 3-1 with one abstention, approved rules that open up Kentucky Sires Stakes to the offspring of mares that have resided in the state for six months or more independent of where the stallion stands.

Another approved regulation will see a total of $25,000 available to the stallion owners of KYSS Final winners if the stallion stands in Kentucky at the time of conception. The bonus would be split with $15,000 for the stallion owner of the winner, $7,500 for second and $2,500 for third.

The Kentucky Standardbred Advisory Panel consists of Walnut Hall's Alan Leavitt, Kentuckiana Farms' Ken Jackson, Dr. James Sautter, The Red Mile's Joe Costa, and Kentucky Harness Horseman's Association president Bob Stewart. Stewart was not present at the vote, but was represented by KHHA Executive Director Gabe Prewitt.

Official language and parameters still must be finalized by the Advisory Panel and then approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The state Legislative Review Commission would then need to give the changes final approval.

Kentucky Horse Racing Commission deputy director Marc Guilfoil told harnessracing.com that if everything is approved there's a possibility the revamped program would go into effect next year, thus initially affecting the 2017 crop of two-year-olds.