Several prominent industry representatives spoke before the Congressional Horse Caucus hearing on the need to pass the Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015 and grant oversight of drug testing and enforcement in horse racing to a new, independent entity under the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2016 – Prominent figures from the horse racing industry appeared today before members of the Congress to discuss the future of the Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015 (H.R. 3084).  The industry representatives were invited to participate in the panel by Congressional Horse Caucus Co-Chairs Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), who introduced the bipartisan bill last July.  This hearing presented an educational opportunity for Horse Caucus members and industry to examine the legislation and its authority to grant rulemaking, testing and enforcement of drug and medication use in Thoroughbred horse racing to an entity created under the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Panelists who spoke before Caucus included racehorse owner/professional chef Bobby Flay; former Maryland Jockey Club Owner Joe De Francis; and Coalition members Craig Fravel, President & CEO of Breeders’ Cup Ltd.; and Chauncey Morris, Executive Director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders. The Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association provided written testimony. The hearing will stream live here.

“Because we are a sea of individual jurisdictions,” said Flay in his statement, “we have not been even remotely close to getting everyone on the same page and I can say with the utmost certainty that will never happen. We need federal oversight and we need it now. … We need to rebuild the reputation of American horse racing so that the general public understands without question that we are putting the health and well-being of the horse first and foremost in the equation.”

The Congressional Horse Caucus is made of 28 representatives from both parties, and is tasked with raising awareness of the American equine industry and its economic impact on the U.S.  Currently, the proposed H.R. 3084 has the support of 33 bipartisan members from the House of Representatives, including cosponsors from California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, New Jersey, New York and South Carolina. 

In his statement, Fravel said, “We should not confuse progress with success and we who profess our commitment to integrity, uniformity and transparency should not be content with any system so long as there is room for major improvement.” He continued, “The system contemplated by H.R. 3084 shrinks 38 rulemaking and enforcement bodies to one. … It creates a system that makes sense, and I want to thank Congressman Barr and Congressman Tonko for their concern for our industry and their support for an effort to make a great sport as good as it can be.”

The horse racing industry has been working to advance better rules pertaining to drugs, drug testing and penalties through the National Uniform Medication Program (NUMP) on a state-by-state basis, and while progress has been made, there still remain significant inconsistencies in standards and enforcement in the 38 states that permit pari-mutuel wagering.

The Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity supports the Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015, which would authorize an independent, racing-specific, non-governmental and non-profit organization to create uniform, high standards in drug and medication testing and enforcement for Thoroughbred horse racing. The new Thoroughbred Horseracing Anti-Doping Authority (THADA), to be governed by a board of six USADA board members and five independent individuals from the racing industry, would work collaboratively with state racing commissions and their respective staff members throughout the country, funded entirely by industry at no cost to taxpayers. Among the provisions in the proposed legislation, THADA would develop and administer a nationwide anti-doping program that would go into effect beginning January 1, 2017.

The Coalition’s membership includes major racing organizations, animal welfare groups, racing and wagering facilities and a grassroots organization with over 1,300 owners, trainers, breeders, and racing professionals.

Additional information, including a list of coalition members, stories from supporters and ways to contact Congress to express support for this legislation, is available at www.horseracingintegrity.com.