The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) said that despite not being subject to the Freedom of Information Act, they will release certain data beginning in the first quarter of 2024. The news of their formal data disclosure policy, which includes the routine public release of data collected through its Racetrack Safety (RS) and Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Programs, as well as a process through which individuals may request additional records from HISA, was announced in a press release Monday morning.
The release reads:
“The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Inc. (“HISA”) is a private, independent, self-regulatory, nonprofit corporation, and, therefore, is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) or state and local open records laws. However, as the organization charged with developing and implementing a horseracing anti-doping and medication control (“ADMC”) program and a racetrack safety (“RS”) program for covered horses, covered persons, and covered horseraces, HISA believes that sharing certain data and information collected in connection with these programs is integral to improving the safety and integrity of Thoroughbred racing.
As part of HISA's commitment to public reporting, HISA intends to release certain data under the RS program on a quarterly basis beginning in the first quarter of 2024. Going forward, an annual report will be released in Q1 of each calendar year that presents new data from Q4 of the previous year, along with a full analysis of the previous calendar year's complete data set. Quarterly reports will also be issued in Q2, Q3 and Q4 of each year, which will present new data from the previous quarter. Information relating to HISA's ADMC program will be released by the independent enforcement agency of the ADMC program, the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), in accordance with a similar disclosure schedule.
HISA's initial release of information in the first quarter of 2024 will include data for all of calendar year 2023 concerning equine fatalities, registrations, fines assessed, track accreditation, and riding crop violations. Additional RS metrics will be released as HISA's level of confidence in reporting by Covered Persons and the ability to track and aggregate data improves. Beginning in 2024, HISA will also start regularly sharing meeting minutes for meetings of the HISA Board and its Standing Committees.
In addition to HISA's regular reporting, beginning in the first quarter of 2024, individual requests for information may be submitted by contacting Mandy Minger, Director of Communications (mandy.minger@hisaus.org, 917-846-8804). HISA will respond to these requests on a case-by-case basis by taking into consideration whether there are privacy or confidentiality interests, ongoing investigations or pending litigation, or other circumstances that make public disclosure impractical or unfair to interested parties.”
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