Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit releases 2025 annual report
The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit released its 2025 annual report Tuesday, detailing another year of expanded testing, stepped-up investigations and significant changes to its laboratory network under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program.
The full report is available on the HIWU website.
The enforcement agency conducted 73,815 sample collection sessions across 19 states last year, testing 25,515 unique horses. Samples were collected on 364 days – every day except Dec. 25. Of those sessions, 357 produced adverse analytical findings, an overall positive rate of 0.48%.
Controlled medication violations accounted for 84.3% of the positives, with banned substance findings making up the remaining 15.7%. Phenylbutazone (44 findings), acepromazine (51) and dexamethasone (40) ranked among the most common substances detected. New York led all states with 46 adverse findings, followed by Florida (41), Pennsylvania (39), Kentucky (35) and California (33).
Among the year's most notable developments was the Jan. 1 launch of the HISA Equine Analytical Laboratory (HEAL) Accreditation Program, which established national standards for the laboratories that analyze samples under the ADMC Program. The accreditation framework brought immediate consequences: the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory had its probationary status suspended in July for failing to meet compliance standards, and the Analytical Toxicology Laboratory at the Ohio Department of Agriculture received a similar suspension in February 2026.
A new lab entered the fold in August when Equine Integrity and Anti-Doping Sciences Labs in Lexington, Ky., earned probationary HEAL accreditation. EQIAS Labs, formerly the University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, operates under Eagle Diagnostics, an affiliate of The Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory.
The science department also underwent a leadership change after Dr. Mary Scollay retired from her role as chief of science in July following nearly four decades in the racing industry. Dr. Michael Hardy, who also serves as executive director of the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium, took over as acting chief of science.
On the investigations front, the unit's 26 investigators conducted 463 searches at 50 tracks and training centers, a jump of nearly 60 compared to 2024. The team opened 602 investigative inquiries and generated 32 cases – 16 equine anti-doping and 16 controlled medication – from searches and investigations alone, representing a 60% year-over-year increase. The anonymous tip line received 219 tips, with 70% warranting follow-up.
The report also addressed the proposed ADMC rule modifications that HISA opened for public comment in November 2025. Among the proposed changes are reduced sanctions for human substances of abuse and vets' list violations and a new Class D category for anti-ulcer medications. A separate study by the RMTC's Scientific Advisory Committee resulted in a proposed minimum reporting level of 4.0 nanograms per milliliter in blood for metformin, designed to distinguish intentional administration from inadvertent environmental exposure. Both proposals await Federal Trade Commission approval.
In the interim, 58 cases – 15 equine anti-doping and 43 controlled medication – remained stayed pending the outcome of those rule changes.
"With our role in the Thoroughbred industry now established, we have been able to invest in meaningful projects that will ensure a professional, effective and fair program that will benefit racing participants for years to come," HIWU executive director Ben Mosier said.