By Dan Ross
Since issuing a cheat sheet to help guide industry participants through the launch of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) on July 1, the TDN has been fielding unanswered questions that industry participants have about the process to register, and about the anticipated playing field within a few weeks, forwarding them to HISA for response.
The first two batches of reader questions, alongside HISA's responses, can be found here and here.
The latest batch of answers is below. Some of the questions have been edited for brevity and clarity.
The TDN has forwarded every question received, most of them concerned with the impending launch date, but some of them much broadly focused on the federal law in general and the draft Anti-Doping and Medication Control program.
Some of you might still be waiting for a response, however. That's because the organization has focused its attention on answering questions related to racetrack safety and registration given the “push” to July 1, explained a HISA spokesperson. Feedback on the draft ADMC rules may be sent to admcfeedback@hisaus.org.
HISA's formal website can be found here, and the online registration portal can be found here.
Question: This question is in regards to your response to the jockey crop question. Right now, only one company makes the crop that meets the compliance requirements. You say other companies can make crops that meet these requirements, however they cannot if the original company has a patent on the design. Please advise.
HISA: According to the manufacturer of the 360 crop, there is no patent on the current design. And in fact, the patent owner is encouraging other manufacturers to enter the market to increase supply.
Q: When entering horses' names, foal dates and mares' names, the portal would not accept them and I couldn't move forward. What shall I do?
H: If you have entered a horse's name and it is not present in the dropdown list, please call 1-877-513-2919 for assistance. If the horse is unnamed, you do not have to register the horse before July 1st.
Q: Anyone with access to horses on the backstretch has to register, and I worry about people whose English might not be good or who isn't computer-savvy, getting it done. How will HISA help with this? Alternately, should the tracks and/or their representative HBPAs have people helping backstretch employees with their registration?
H: HISA is providing resource materials online and in person in English and Spanish. Some racetracks have held in-person registration drives and HISA will be visiting several racetracks to facilitate the registration process. If you work at a racetrack that is interested putting on a registration event, please send an email to feedback@hisaus.org.
Q: I'm trying to enter the information for [someone] who lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and it keeps kicking me out. I think because of the address. Is there something special to do for an international address?
H: HISA is expanding the list of countries for which we are providing valid addresses. In the meantime, please use the address of the racetrack where they will run.
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