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Controversial Bill to Protect Racehorses
Bill to Protect Racehorses Controversial
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 (S. 4547) recently introduced into the Senate is almost as controversial as the actions that lead to its proposal.
The racing industry recently was hit by a rash of fatal breakdowns and a series of doping scandals. Several top trainers were charged with using performance-enhancing drugs on their horses, most notably, Jason Service, whose horse Maximum Security finished first in the 2019 Derby. Maximum Security was later disqualified.
The HISA will improve the integrity and safety of Thoroughbred racing by requiring uniform safety and performance standards, including an anti-doping and medication-control program and a racetrack safety program to be developed and enforced by an independent Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, according to National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), which supports the bill.
But others, including the American Quarter Horse and the U.S. Trotting Associations, oppose the bill. Their concern is that HISA is directed toward the Thoroughbred industry and does not include Standardbreds, Quarter Horses and other breeds.
In addition, the new bill eliminates the race-day use of furosemide, which can be abused, but also can be used legitimately to mitigate the occurrence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in racehorses.
“Uniformity of therapeutic medication rules in United States horse racing is a goal long endorsed by the AAEP, and we are eager to evaluate the newly proposed Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act to understand how the legislation will address both antidoping and therapeutic medication control,” said Jeff Berk, DVM, racing committee chair of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. “These 2 pillars require oversight by individuals with a high level of expertise.
“It is more important than ever that the AAEP work together with industry stakeholders to create a workable legislative vehicle that will achieve the uniformity, safety and integrity standards we all seek for racehorses and the racing industry.” MeV
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