HISA Committee Chairs to Speak at Symposium on Racing

Less than a year ago, historic bipartisan legislation to modernize the regulation of Thoroughbred racing was passed into law. For the first time in the history of the sport, the legislation provided a national framework to ensure a single set of rules and enforcement mechanisms to govern medication use and track safety. 

Last week, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency released the first tranche of new, draft regulations for public review and input. Three of the six documents pertaining to the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program, drafted by USADA, have been posted, including the proposed Equine Protocol, Prohibited List, and Definitions. In addition, and separate from USADA's work, rules relating to the Racetrack Safety Program also have been posted for public review. Additional documents are expected to be posted next week.

In concert with the rules submission to the Federal Trade Commission for review (which will include an additional public comment period) and approval, members of the racing community will have the opportunity to hear from HISA's chairman of the board of directors, Charles Scheeler, Anti-Doping and Medication Control Committee chair Adolpho Birch, along with Racetrack Safety Committee chair Susan Stover at the University of Arizona's 47th Annual Global Symposium on Racing.

The Tuesday, Dec. 7 sessions mark the HISA leadership's first participation in a public forum following meetings with nearly 30 racing organizations, track operators, state racing commissions, and others over the past two months to shape the new rules. 

At the symposium, HISA officials will outline the draft rules and regulations, the timelines they and industry stakeholders have been working under, and discuss implications for racing participants, regulators, and fans.

"We're thrilled to be joining leaders from across racing at the University of Arizona to discuss HISA and the future of racing. Our teams have been hard at work, listening, consulting, and taking in feedback from experts. The rulemaking process will be ongoing, and we encourage industry stakeholders, racing fans, and the general public to review and comment through our website," Scheeler said. "While the FTC will authorize the final set of rules for the official launch of the Authority in July 2022, it is the Authority's full intention to continue to work with the industry to evolve and improve the rules beyond that time.

"The past year has made it all too clear that the current patchwork of regulations across multiple state racing jurisdictions, along with their corresponding adjudication processes, are inefficient and out-of-date. In just two weeks' time, the Global Racing Symposium will provide a glimpse into how the Authority, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and the FTC will work with the horse racing industry to modernize regulation of the sport."