FTC

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has submitted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) a technical document listing and categorizing 1,365 Prohibited Substances covered by HISA's anti-doping and medication control (ADMC) rules and further dividing them into subcategories of Banned Substances and Controlled Medications. The document is now subject to final approval by the FTC ahead of the ADMC Program's Jan. 1, 2023 implementation date. This technical document was developed by HISA's ADMC Standing Committee and approved by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), which will administer the...

Four U.S. senators, Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and John Kennedy (R-LA), sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Monday asking for clarification and explanation about HISA's ability to meet its upcoming July 1 implementation deadlines for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). "The Authority publicly stated in a December 2021 press release that it will not implement the Anti-Doping and Medication Control program by the statutory deadline of July 1, 2022," the letter said. "This deadline is...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved the proposed Enforcement and Methodology Assessment Rules in addition to the distribution of the 2022 cost assessments to state racing commissions, according to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) Friday. The effective date for the start of the Racetrack Safety Program is July 1. "These developments bring us closer to fulfilling our mandate to protect the wellbeing of both horse and rider through uniform rules and accreditation standards," said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. "The Racetrack Safety Program will expand veterinary oversight, impose...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved the rules and accreditation standards that comprise the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Racetrack Safety Program on Friday. The National HBPA issued the following statement on Saturday: "The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday, March 3, 2022, issued an order approving without exception all the racetrack safety regulations propounded by the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority (HISA). The rubber-stamp order accepted without issue all of the proposed rules as well as acceptance of the Authority's responses to the comments submitted by industry participants....

Edited Press Release The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (the Authority) formally submitted draft Racetrack Safety regulations to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Dec. 6 for review, public comment and final approval with an effective date of July 1, 2022. The draft rules reflect significant work by the Authority's Racetrack Safety Committee and input from a broad range of regulators, experts, other industry stakeholders and the general public. The rules will establish a national, uniform program including pre-race veterinary inspections, voided claim rules, racetrack surface maintenance, and the gathering of...

Prosecutors in the racehorse doping conspiracy case that ensnared 29 racetrackers, veterinarians and pharmaceutical brokers one year ago tried to convince a federal judge Friday that recent motions made by some of the defendants to dismiss drug alteration and misbranding charges are "without merit" and represent "an effort to invent a statutory limitation where none exists." The government's memorandum of law filed Mar. 5 in United States District Court (Southern District of New York) addresses a number of alleged legal flaws in the defendants' motions to dismiss, including several that...

Florida Thoroughbred Charities (FTC), the charitable arm of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA), has kicked off an online auction to benefit Thoroughbred retirement and youth education programs. Sponsored by FTBOA, as well as Horse Capital Television, Florida Equine Communications, and Kathleen O'Connell Racing Stables, the FTC auction has 57 items already up for bid and continues to add more. Featured items include halters worn by Justify, Speightstown, Wildcat Heir, and the 2019 filly out of Songbird by Arrogate. Original art pieces, racing memorabilia--including 1961 and 1978 Kentucky...