HISA Submits Proposed Enforcement and Registration Rules Changes to FTC

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has submitted proposed changes to its Enforcement Rules (Rule Series 8000) and Registration Rules (Rule Series 9000) to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for review.

The FTC will subsequently post the proposed rules to the public register for public comment.

DOWNLOAD: Redlined proposed changes – Enforcement Rules (Rule Series 8000)

DOWNLOAD: Redlined proposed changes – Registration Rules (Rule Series 9000)

Until changes to the Enforcement Rules and Registration Rules are approved by the FTC, the previously approved version of the  rules will remain in place. Those rules are available in full on HISA's Regulations Page.

HISA's proposed changes to the Enforcement and Registration Rules were developed after dialogue with and feedback from racing participants across the country. Proposed redline changes to the Enforcement and Registration Rules were also published on HISA's website for industry input. The proposed changes submitted to the FTC Wednesday were reviewed and approved by HISA's Board of Directors.

Included in the proposed changes to the Enforcement Rules:

• Entering or running an ineligible horse with the knowledge of its ineligibility is a violation
• If a Covered Horse is disqualified, the purse shall be redistributed in accordance with the revised order of finish
• Failure by a Covered Person to pay any fine imposed by the Authority, or by any official or body authorized to adjudicate violations under the Rule 8000 Series shall be subject to automatic suspension by the Authority
• HISA can now review any evidence or information from any source which establishes a reasonable probability there has been a rule violation

Included in the proposed changes to the Registration Rules:

• Owners having an ownership or beneficial interest in a horse of less than 5% shall not be required to register unless such owner is or becomes a Responsible Person as defined in Rule 2010
• Location of the Covered Horse, which shall be updated by the Responsible Person within twenty four (24) hours of the Covered Horse arriving at its new location
• If the Covered Horse suffers a fatal condition, the Responsible Person within three (3) days of the date of the fatality shall update the Covered Horse's status as deceased, provide the date of the fatality and an explanation regarding the cause of the fatal condition

When and if the rule changes are approved by the FTC, HISA will undertake robust educational efforts to ensure horsemen nationwide are fully aware of these changes and well-equipped to comply with them before they go into effect.

Proposed changes to HISA's Racetrack Safety Program (Rule Series 2000) were submitted to the FTC for review last week, and proposed changes to HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control Rules (Rule Series 1000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000) are available now for industry and public input on HISA's website and will be submitted to the FTC for review later this fall.