Horseracing Integrity Act to be heard by House subcommittee

The Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection, chaired by Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH), has announced a legislative hearing for 9 a.m. ET Friday for the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2017.

As part of #SubDCCP’s jurisdiction of sports integrity and safety, the hearing will examine the Horseracing Integrity Act and its impact on the racing industry. Members will have the opportunity to hear from a broad range of perspectives about the sport and the current regulatory framework governing it in the U.S.

“Horseracing has a storied history in the U.S. and remains an economic driver throughout much of the country," Latta said. "Our upcoming hearing will provide important perspectives on the current state of the industry. I look forward to learning more about the legislative framework surrounding the sport and potential policy implications for the future."

The Majority Memorandum, witness testimony, and live webcast will be made available as they are posted on the committee’s website HERE.

Introduced by Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Paul Tonko (D-NY), the Horseracing Integrity Act calls for "the Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication Control Authority as an independent non-profit corporation with responsibility for developing and administering an anti-doping and medication control program for: (1) Thoroughbred, Quarter, and Standardbred horses that participate in horse races that have a substantial relation to interstate commerce, (2) such horse races, and (3) the personnel engaged in the care, training, or racing of such horses."

It has the written support of more than 100 members of the racing industry, including big-name trainers Graham Motion and Nick Zito through the Water Hay Oats Alliance.

The Horseracing Integrity Act would give the Federal Trade Commission jurisdiction over racing, tasking it with forming nationwide anti-doping and medication control rules; lists of permitted and prohibited substances and methods; a prohibition on the administration of any such substance within 24 hours of a horse's next racing start; and testing and laboratory standards.