Speakers Selected for Congressional Hearing

A diverse group of speakers will gather to discuss integrity and safety in horse racing at a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. (EST) Nov. 21 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington.

Scheduled to appear will be former Minnesota Racing Commission chairman Jesse Overton, National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association chief executive officer Phil Hanrahan, veterinarians Lawrence Soma and Sheila Lyons, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief executive officer Travis Tygart, and Humane Society of the U.S. president Wayne Parcelle.

The hearing called by the Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will focus on "a bill to improve integrity and safety of interstate horse racing and for other purposes." That proposed legislation would designate the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency as the independent anti-doping organization responsible for ensuring the integrity and safety in the sport.

The subcommittee is chaired by U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, a Nebraska Republican.

Most of horse racing's handle is generated off-track and the bill would require tracks that offer interstate wagering to grant oversight to the USADA. The USADA would define rules for therapeutic substances but no medication would be allowed to be administered within 24 hours of the race.

The proposed legislation would prohibit the race-day use of furosemide to treat EIPH. The bill says furosemide (Salix, or Lasix), which currently can be administered four hours before a race, would be phased out.

The USADA would have the authority to exclude persons from participating in racing.

For Phil Hanrahan's statement to the subcommittee, click here.

For additional background on the hearing, click here.

For live video of the hearing when it begins, click here.