Commercial Breeders Group Supports USADA Bill

The Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity announced that the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association (CBA), the trade group for buyers and sellers of racehorses in the U.S., has joined as a member.

The addition of the CBA and its members to the coalition follows closely the additions of Meadowlands Racetrack, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs just last week. CHRI said the additions are evidence of the "continuing momentum for national oversight of uniform medication standards in American horse racing."

In a statement provided to the Coalition by the CBA board, the organization said, "We support the goal of the coalition, and the Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015, to replace the current, fragmented state-by-state regulatory system with one set of rules and penalties overseen by an independent third party, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. While we recognize that there are still details to be decided, we noted two areas of specific importance to us: The governing board must include experienced industry stakeholders and the IHA (Interstate Horseracing Act) should not be opened in word or operation. These are important provisions which our members are glad to see included in the bill."  

The CBA represents a large majority of the top 20 consignors and an overwhelming majority of breeders and consignors who sell at public auction in Kentucky to provide a constructive, unified voice related to sales issues, policies, and procedures, the release said.

The board further explained, "Our association's initiatives are designed to encourage a fair and expanding marketplace for all who breed, buy, or sell thoroughbreds. We feel the implementation of the Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act will create an expanding marketplace by addressing an important issue in our industry.  If successful, the popularity of racing will increase and our marketplace will grow."

The coalition has the goal of implementing uniform medication testing and enforcement regulations throughout the United States' 38 racing jurisdictions.