Regulations Went into Effect July 1
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) reached a new and critical milestone on July 1, when the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Racetrack Safety Program went into effect. Leading up to and since that time, it has received more than 50,000 participants, which includes covered persons and Thoroughbred horses that participate in horse racing in the U.S.
Registration under HISA provides numerous benefits for the industry, which once went without a unified set of regulations, including greater oversight and safety for horses within the industry.
The program requires individuals within horse racing to register with the Authority so they may continue participating in the sport. Those who are obliged to register include a wide range of people holding various positions within the sport: jockeys to trainers, or even owners to veterinarians, as well as racetrack owners.
The rule also requires individuals to register their horses, including any Thoroughbreds that are running in or are training to run in races.
Leading up to July 1, the Authority announced in a press release that “38,416 participants, including 18,400 covered persons and 20,016 covered horses, have registered” under the new regulation.
Since that time, registrations have surpassed 50,000 participants.
Bloodhorse.com also reported that following the July 1 deadline, Belmont Park and Churchill Downs carried forward on “July 2 without any major issues or scratches due to licensing snafus” according to race officials.
Congress established the Authority in 2020 under HISA, which received bi-partisan support on Capitol Hill, as well as backing from animal rights groups. The Authority is designed to create and enforce a unified set of rules for Thoroughbred racing in the U.S.
Following the July 1 date, the next benchmark under HISA is January 2023, which will see the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program go into effect.
Any horse racing participants who have not yet registered can do so at www.hisaus.org/registration.