HISA Submits Proposed Enforcement, Registration Changes

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has submitted proposed changes to its enforcement rules and registration rules to the Federal Trade Commission for review.

Red-lined documents noting these proposed changes are available for download at the links below. The FTC will subsequently post the proposed rules to the public register for public comment.

Redlined proposed changes—enforcement rules (Rule Series 8000)

Redlined proposed changes—registration rules (Rule Series 9000)

Until changes to the enforcement rules and registration rules are approved by the FTC, the previously approved version of these rules will remain in place. Those rules are available in full on HISA's regulations page.

HISA's proposed changes to the enforcement and registration rules were developed after dialogue with and feedback from racing participants across the country. Proposed redline changes to the enforcement and registration rules were also published on HISA's website for industry input. The proposed changes submitted to the FTC Sept. 27 were reviewed and approved by HISA's board of directors.

In a proposed change to its enforcement rules, HISA outlines its procedures in reviewing submitted evidence or information.

"The Authority may on its own initiative review any evidence or information submitted from any source which establishes a reasonable probability that one or more rules of the Authority…have been violated or have not been enforced," the currently redline proposal reads. "If the evidence or information pertains to the running of a Covered Horserace, the evidence or information must be submitted to the Authority within 72 hours of the Covered Horserace, absent exceptional circumstances which necessitate a longer period of time. If the Authority deems the evidence or information submitted to be lacking in credibility, the Authority is not obligated to conduct a review. The Authority's decision whether or not to conduct a review shall be final and shall not be subject to appeal. If the Authority determines there is a reasonable probability that the rules of the Authority have been violated or have not been enforced, the Authority shall conduct an investigation of the matter."

A proposed change in the registration rules would see owners with a stake of less than 5% in a horse not be required to register.

When and if these rule changes are approved by the FTC, HISA will undertake robust educational efforts to ensure horsemen nationwide are fully aware of these changes and well-equipped to comply with them before they go into effect.

Proposed changes to HISA's anti-doping and medication control rules are available now for industry and public input on HISA's website and will be submitted to the FTC for review later this fall.

HISA is comprised of two programs: the Racetrack Safety Program, which went into effect on July 1, 2022, and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which went into effect on May 22, 2023.