Today, horseracing industry groups representing over tens of thousands of horsemen joined Congressman Clay Higgins (LA-03) to introduce the Racehorse Health and Safety Act (RHSA) to bring safety to the industry. The bill is endorsed by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (HBPA), the United States Trotting Association (USTA), the North American Association [...]
Joe Sharp with Callie's Grit. (Tim Wilkin photo) There is only one place Tim Witt wants to be on Sunday. He has to be at Kentucky Downs. Callie’s Grit is running. The 3-year-old filly is named for Callie Witt, the 20-year-old daughter of Tim and Jennifer Witt of Rogers, Nebraska. Callie died [...]
Open Letter to the Industry By Darrell Vienna, attorney at law As HISA continues to modify and revise various parts of its rules1, one critical area has been allowed to continue its destructive effect on horse owners and their horses. This harmful oversight needs to be modified immediately. Or better yet, yesterday. Under current [...]
Frank L. Jones Jr. — for decades one of Kentucky horse racing’s most influential participants in a variety of capacities — died Thursday morning after a long illness. Jones, 86, served for decades as the owners’ vice president of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association and was on his second stretch as vice [...]
Open letter to the industry By Thomas B. Little DVM In horse racing, the betting public counts on owners and trainers trying to win within safe and lawful parameters. A critical component associated with both is the private veterinary practitioners they employ to help prepare the horse for competition. To date there is no evidence [...]
Open letter from AZHBPA President Lloyd Yother to our horsemen and women and the industry: Subject: Arizona’s horse racing future There has been a lot of deliberating on the future of Arizona racing over the past several months — racing that many in the state depend on for their livelihoods. I have had a few [...]
The finalists and runners-up for the 2023 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards have been announced, including three finalists in six of the seven categories. The winner and runner-up of the seventh category, the Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award, have already been decided with Linda Doane of the The Healing Place in Louisville, Kentucky awarded the top [...]
Announcement by HISA & HIWU Regarding Provisional Suspensions: The policy changes linked to here will be effective immediately and shall apply to any Responsible Person Provisionally Suspended following a positive test for a Banned Substance. Statement from National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback: "The National HBPA understands when there are seismic changes, there will be bumps [...]
Photo courtesy Donald Smith Open Letter to the Industry By Donald Smith, DVM I am in the twilight of a career spanning more than 40 years practicing veterinary medicine at racetracks. With great sadness I question whether any of today’s vet school graduates — if they even choose to be a “horse doc” [...]
Press release from the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) announced today that it has launched a mobile HIWU app to assist stakeholders in the Thoroughbred industry with the components of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. The free app is highlighted [...]