HISA

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. The TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from the same week. These will include decisions from around the country. New York Track: Belmont Park Date: 06/27/2023 Licensee: Manuel Franco, jockey Penalty:...

Attorney Drew Mollica understands that his client trainer Doug Nunn violated Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) Rule 3313, which prohibits trainers from running a horse within 14 days of an intra-articular joint injection or working them within seven days of the injection. What he doesn't understand is why his client has been suspended while at least 15 other trainers have been let off the hook for the same violation. "This is the height of hypocrisy," Mollica said. "He has been victimized by a system that is flawed." On June...

With oral arguments tentatively scheduled for the first week in October, the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and 12 of its affiliates told the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Wednesday that the rewritten version of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) remains "patently unconstitutional," and that the Authority overseeing the sport "is basically a private police department" whose sweeping powers equate to "oligarchic tyranny." As the appellants in a lawsuit that has persisted in the federal court system for more than 27...

A new study, called for in 2019 by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation found that hair testing can be used to consistently detect bisphosphonates for up to six months after administration. The study was on the use of hair as a matrix for the long-term detection of bisphosphonates in horses, the organization said in a release Thursday. "Over the past few years, bisphosphonate use has become a concern with regard to the welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses," said Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson. "We are very thankful for the generous support...

Following an incident after race eight on Belmont's Monday card where Cold Hard Cash (Maclean's Music) sustained an apparent cardiovascular event during the gallop out, collapsed and died on track, NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna released the following statement: "The health and safety of horses and jockeys competing at NYRA tracks is our highest priority and one that stands above all other considerations. NYRA's comprehensive safety strategy is informed by the most advanced science and research in consultation with independent experts, veterinarians, and horsemen. Every horse entered to compete at Belmont...

McLean Robertson, a top trainer in the Midwest whose accomplishments include a pair of training titles at Canterbury Park, has been provisionally suspended by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) after a horse he trained allegedly tested positive for Altrenogest. The ruling was posted to the HIWU website Monday. It's been a busy few days for HIWU. On Saturday, it was reported on the HIWU website that New York-based trainer Raymond Handal has been provisionally suspended after an alleged positive for Zeranol. On Sunday, the website included a ruling...

by Sue Finley and Stefanie Grimm The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit has provisionally suspended trainer Jonathan Wong after one of his horses tested positive for a banned substance last month. Heaven and Earth (Gormley) broke her maiden at Indiana Grand June 1 but subsequently tested positive for the prescription drug metformin, a type 2 diabetes treatment. Wong was notified that his horses will need to be moved to the care of another trainer and potentially faces up to a two-year suspension and a $25,000 fine. While metformin is a...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has temporarily suspended full enforcement of its rules surrounding intra-articular joint injections. Under HISA's rules as written, trainers are prohibited from giving their horse intra-articular joint injections within 14 days prior to the post-time of a race, and within seven days prior to any timed and reported workout. A violation of these rules could result in a 60-day suspension for the trainer. According to an announcement dated June 26, the prohibition of such injections within seven days prior to a workout shall be...

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where. The TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from the same week. These will include decisions from around the country. Kentucky Track: Churchill Downs at Ellis Park Date: 06/18/2023 Licensee: Reyluis Gutierrez,...

Acting upon the recommendation of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission (DTRC) veterinarians in conjunction with the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) air quality guidelines, Delaware Park has cancelled its live racing card scheduled for today, the track said in a release Thursday. Live racing is scheduled to resume tomorrow, Friday, June 30th. Poor air quality also prompted officials at JACK Thistledown and at Charles Town to call off their live racing programs Thursday. Live racing has been cancelled for Thursday, June 29th due to deteriorating air quality. AQI...

After heavy rains forced Parx to abandon the last race on Tuesday, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) said it was "in communication" with the racetrack after race replays showed that Wednesday's races were conducted with a large pool of standing water on the inside rail in the stretch. "HISA has been made aware of the concerning video of the standing water on the track surface at PARX and is gathering more information about the current surface testing metrics at the track," a HISA spokesman said. "We are in...

How to ride your way into the Hall of Fame? Impossible question. Nobody could reduce such a journey, the decades of endeavor and experience, to a single explanation, a single concept. In the case of Chris McCarron, however, you can actually reduce the answer to a single word, simply by asking a different question. That question is: why did you make seven trips to Washington to lobby for the HISA bill? And the single word, answering both questions? Cooperation. That's what he always sought from his mounts; and that's also...