AHC Trustees Oppose IHA Repeal Legislation

Blood-Horse

The American Horse Council board of trustees, which met the week of June 14, voted unanimously to oppose federal legislation that would be repeal the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 in conjunction with oversight of equine medication and testing in Thoroughbred racing.

Legislation to that effect was introduced by Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico and Rep. Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania.

“The industry is united in its opposition to these bills,” AHC president Jay Hickey said June 22. “The Interstate Horse Racing Act is the framework on which the present-day $26 billion horse racing industry is built. Repealing it would be devastating.”

The latest legislation calling for repeal of the IHA was floated just days before the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). It was largely panned by the horse racing industry organizations.

Several weeks later U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko of New York said he would introduce legislation that would in effect award the United States Anti-Doping Agency oversight of equine medication, testing, and enforcement but leave intact the IHA; racing jurisdictions, however, would have to comply with USADA policy in order to retain interstate simulcast rights.

Hickey said the AHC board of trustees hasn’t taken a position on the Tonko proposal. Sources said the legislation could be introduced the week of June 21.

The AHC said also at stake under legislation introduced by Udall and Pitts are exemptions for pari-mutuel horse racing under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which regulates interstate wagering on the Internet.

“By doing this the bills would return racing to the way it operated in the 1950s and 1960s and cause great economic damage to the industry,” the AHC said.

The Tonko proposal has the support of the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity, whose current members are Breeders’ Cup, The Jockey Club, Water Hay Oats Alliance, and the Humane Society of the United States.