Humane Society Forms Horse Racing Council

The Humane Society of the United States, already a member of a group that supports federal legislation that would grant the United States Anti-Doping Agency authority over equine medication policy and drug testing, has formed a horse racing council to promote animal welfare standards.

The HSUS National Horse Racing Advisory Council was announced June 23, roughly one month before a Senate version of the Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015 is expected to be introduced. The House version introduced last year was the subject of a Congressional Horse Caucus hearing in late April.

HSUS president and chief executive officer Wayne Pacelle, during a media teleconference, said the organization's focus in terms of equine welfare has dealt primarily with horse slaughter and the practice of "soring" in the show horse world. That won't change, he said, but horse racing will be more of a priority.

"In the last decade or two it hasn't been a top-tier issue, but it's moving up on the priority list," Pacelle said. "We're to provide considerable focus on this issue. In spite of the efforts of a number of people to drive reforms, there are still chronic issues in the industry, one of which is the doping of horses."

The HSUS is a member of the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity.

The council, which the HSUS called a diverse group of stakeholders, has seven members: The chair is Joe De Francis, former chief executive officer and controlling shareholder of the Maryland Jockey Club and an adviser to the HSUS; Jim Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club; Stacie Clark-Rogers, who oversees the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance; former horse racing marketing executive Allen Gutterman; Joe Gorajec, former executive director of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and now a consultant; Staci Hancock, a breeder and active participant in racehorse aftercare; and retired jockey Chris McCarron.

Pacelle said the HSUS, which is based in Washington, D.C., is "gathering momentum" in horse racing among racetrack owners, trainers, and horsemen who care deeply about the industry and horses and want to see change. He said the current set-up of state-by-state regulation with differing rules and standards has led those who dope horses to go "shopping for venues to find ways to stay ahead of regulators."

When asked if the HSUS considered having a racetrack operator and a trainer on the council, De Francis noted he has a background in that area but that wouldn't preclude others from participating. "In terms of selecting individual members we wanted as broad a cross-section as we could get," he said. "That was the primary guiding principle. We're open to expanding (the council) to other members and would welcome the participation of trainers."

De Francis also clarified the HSUS definition of "doping," a term used by Pacelle. He said doping refers to use of illegal substances and "use of medications that are perhaps therapeutic but also can be performance-enhancing and health-threatening (for horses)."

De Francis said the federal bill and USADA would provide a means to devise policies for therapeutic drugs used for racehorse health. He said the organization is "totally independent and unbiased, with no conflict of interest or economic interest to be pushing one way or another."

The federal bill as written would create the Thoroughbred Horseracing Anti-Doping Authority, which would grant the USADA-shaped board power over regulation, testing, and enforcement. It would be comprised of the USADA chief executive officer—currently Travis Tygart—five USADA board members, and five individuals from different constituencies of the Thoroughbred industry appointed by USADA.

Pacelle credited USADA for its work in other sports and said: "We're moving toward zero-tolerance. Equine athletes are vulnerable."

Pacelle said the coalition is working out the details of the Senate version of the legislation. Thus far, most racing associations and horsemen's groups have opted not to join the coalition or push the legislation on their own.

"We really see a consensus on (the legislation)," Pacelle said. "The outliers will be marginalized over time."