If you’re involved with horse racing in the U.S., then you’ve heard of HISA, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act that received bipartisan support and was signed into federal law in 2020. The Act also created the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which is “responsible for drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in thoroughbred racing in the U.S.”
That’s an important responsibility for the Authority since horse racing in the U.S. has never operated under a single agreed upon set of rules and practices that apply to the health and safety of Thoroughbreds.
In fact, horse racing operated under 38 different jurisdictions until HISA, making it impossible for anyone to oversee and ensure safe practices for Thoroughbreds.
But under HISA, two programs were established to focus on the health and wellbeing of the horses – the Racetrack Safety Program that went into effect July 1, 2022, as well the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program, which will take effect in 2023.
What these programs mean for the sport of horse racing goes beyond just new rules that owners, jockeys, trainers, and others need to follow if they wish to continue participating in the sport.
It’s about providing a new avenue for the sport to flourish with greater integrity with a focus that is holistic towards all participants in horse racing – horses and persons.
A breakdown of HISA’s benefits to the sport include:
- The safety of Thoroughbreds within the sport is placed front and center under the new rules that will govern training and racing, as well as racetracks.
- Horse racing in the U.S. will no longer operate under a makeshift hodgepodge of rules and regulations that are often conflicting depending on what state you’re in and where you’re racing.
- Under the Racetrack Safety Program, a national standard must be met by racetracks to ensure that surface conditions are safe and being maintained.
- Additionally, the Racetrack Safety Programs set national accreditation standards and safety regulations to ensure a horse is healthy and fit by requiring:
- Expanded veterinary oversight;
- Enhanced reporting requirements;
- Collection and analysis of medication, treatment, injury, and fatality data;
- A voided claim rule;
- A uniform riding crop rule;
- The transfer of claimed horses’ medical information; and
- Jockey concussion and medical care reporting.
The Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program (ADMC) will establish a testing and results management processes, with shorter turnaround times, as well as a set of uniform penalties under the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU).
These benefits, and the overall approach to governing horse racing under HISA, are critical to the future of the sport.
At the same time, the changes taking place behind the scenes will likely go unnoticed by fans, allowing them to continue enjoying the sport.