State Racing Regulators Open Annual Meeting in Columbus

The annual meeting of the Association of Racing Commissioners International convened March 6 in Columbus, Ohio, in the midst of an evolving regulatory structure for Thoroughbred racing and great uncertainty for what the future may hold.

Outgoing chair Tom Sage, the retiring executive director of the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, gaveled the meeting to order saying "One thing is certain, change is inevitable. Whether the change is good or not so good, we shall see. Regardless, the agencies that regulate this sport will adapt and continue to be independent voices for animal welfare and integrity in sport."

A packed agenda will focus discussions on equine welfare and the work of the American Association of Equine Practitioners' Racing Committee as well as the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's racetrack safety program and what Dr. Sue Stover is learning from the data that HISA collects. There will also be panels on challenges facing the testing labs, racing investigators, and on the pressing need for equine aftercare.

The economic future of racing will be discussed in the context of a panel that will focus on how racing might benefit from the growth of sports betting. Projects currently in the works as well as ideas not yet tried will be discussed.

The attendees will be asked to explore the oversight of sports where therapeutic use exemptions allow athletes to train and compete after being administered a medication compared with horse racing rules.

"Human sports have decided that certain administrations are necessary to safeguard the health of their athletes with a documented medical need," said ARCI president Ed Martin. "Those betting and participating in those sports are just as sensitive as to how they perform in competition as those in horse racing are. They claim these drugs, although they can affect performance, do not permit the athlete to perform beyond their natural ability.

"We have never discussed this topic and nothing is being proposed, but in an environment where our primary focus is on the health of our horses are there issues here that we collectively have never considered?" he explained.   

The ARCI also will elect board members for the coming year and commissioner Doug Moore of Washington will assume the chairmanship of the ARCI Friday. The newly formed board will also elect a chair-elect who will automatically become chair next year.

The ARCI meeting is taking place at the Hilton Downtown Hotel in Columbus. More information can be found at the ARCI website.