The HISA Newsletter

July 2, 2025

Dear Thoroughbred racing participants,

As summer racing hits its stride, we have much to reflect on—and much more to look ahead to. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to send the legal challenges to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act back to the U.S. Courts of Appeals leaves the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act undisturbed and HISA fully operational. We are delighted to have the Supreme Court’s blessing to continue to oversee the safety and integrity of Thoroughbred racing for the foreseeable future and look forward to bringing new and improved services to the industry over the coming months.

That clarity allows us to continue our work without disruption and to focus on what matters most—protecting our human and equine athletes. Across the country this summer, our team will continue to work in close coordination with racetracks, veterinarians and regulators to uphold the highest standards of safety and integrity—through meticulous planning, real-time data collection and the testing and enforcement efforts of the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit.  You will continue to see development and improvement in our information collection efforts as well as an increase in data and information that we share with the industry.

Navigating ongoing legal challenges over a more protracted time frame than expected unfortunately means that the legal expenses that HISA, and in turn, the industry, are required to bear will continue to be meaningful. However, we will remain responsible stewards of industry resources and will persist in communicating transparently with you about that, as we did in our April 11 Town Hall: Understanding HISA’s Financial Framework from Budgeting to Spending to Impact.  As we discussed during that town hall, HISA operates without federal funding or other public funding, but, as our programs mature, we’re seeing real progress in optimizing economies of scale while maintaining high standards to more effectively manage costs. Moreover, we’re working with state leaders across the country to pursue sustainable funding models that ease the burden on tracks and horsemen, and we’re determined to ensure that cost is never the reason a safe, cooperative racetrack can’t continue to operate.

I close this letter to you by reflecting on the recent heartbreaking losses of two titans of our industry, Christophe Clement and D. Wayne Lukas.   I met Christophe early in my tenure as CEO and he was always incredibly supportive and thoughtful about HISA’s operations and goals.  I was fortunate to be able to benefit from his insights and advice and I will never forget how much the success of this industry meant to him.

Wayne was a towering figure in our sport, who had a direct impact on so many of us. He never failed to make me laugh when I saw him nor did he hold back on his candid and useful feedback. Standing beside him and listening to his reflections, you could not help but feel you were in the company of greatness.  His work ethic set the standard for the kind of unyielding dedication that is required to achieve immortality in this sport. His voice and presence will be deeply missed. Thankfully, there is much to remember him by.

Yours in racing,

Lisa

Supreme Court Sends HISA Cases Back to Lower Courts, HISA Remains Law of the Land

The U.S. Supreme Court has sent legal challenges to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (the “Act”) back to the U.S. Courts of Appeal for reconsideration, leaving the Act undisturbed and HISA fully operational.  As a result, the sole adverse decision from the Fifth Circuit (which the Supreme Court had previously paused) is now off the books, and the opinions of the federal district courts—all of which upheld the Act’s constitutionality in full—remain valid and operative. For HISA’s full statement, click here. 

HISA Forms First Medical Advisory Committee to Support Jockey Health and Safety

HISA announced the launch of its inaugural Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), designed to provide expert insight on matters related to jockey health, safety and well-being. The committee will consist of licensed professionals across a variety of medical specialties that will advise on human safety rules, medical protocols and injury prevention strategies. The MAC will meet quarterly and remain on-call to consult on relevant health and safety topics, reinforcing HISA’s commitment to strengthening rider welfare through expert-driven oversight. Applications are now open for qualified medical professionals with experience in areas such as sports medicine, emergency care, mental health and more. More information about the MAC and how to apply by the deadline of Friday, July 25 is available here.

Deadline to Apply for TJC’s Racing Regulatory Veterinarian Fellowship Approaches

The Jockey Club’s Racing Regulatory Veterinarian Fellowship is now open for 2025 applications. Designed to strengthen the veterinary workforce in racing, the Fellowship offers up to $25,000 in student loan repayment to one licensed regulatory veterinarian annually.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be employed at least half-time as a racing regulatory veterinarian in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico for the past two years
• Have graduated from an accredited veterinary school within the past seven years
• Carry outstanding educational loan debt from their veterinary program

Deadline to apply: Monday, July 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EDT

For more information or to apply, visit The Jockey Club’s website.

HISA Presents to the American Horse Council

On Monday, June 23, HISA Board Member Joseph De Francis and Chief Technology Officer Steve Keech presented at the American Horse Council’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. This year’s conference theme, Harness the Power of Collaboration for Greater Achievement, inspired HISA’s presentation, How Data-Driven Partnerships Advance Equine Welfare.

De Francis opened the session with an overview of HISA’s establishment, the implementation of its national programs and the resulting reductions in racing-related fatalities. Keech followed with a deep dive into how artificial intelligence-powered technology is advancing HISA’s mission, showcasing tools developed in partnership with Palantir and Amazon Web Services. These included key features of the HISA Portal, as well as innovations like HISA Check√ and HISA Horse In-Sight.

HISA extends its sincere thanks to the American Horse Council for the opportunity to share how technology and collaboration are driving meaningful improvements in equine safety.

On the Road: HISA Visits Parx Racing

Last week, HISA’s Field Support team member Erin McLaughlin visited Parx Racing to meet with trainers and staff for an open conversation about the HISA Portal’s functionality and other key topics. We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to attend and engage with us.

Interested in having HISA visit your track for an in-person discussion or demonstration? We'd love to connect. Reach out to us at feedback@hisaus.org.

Intern Spotlight: Summer in Full Swing

HISA’s 2025 interns have hit the ground running, contributing to meaningful projects across departments and gaining valuable exposure to the organization’s work in racing safety, integrity, public affairs and other departments. From drafting communications materials to supporting data analysis and accreditation fieldwork, each intern is playing a hands-on role in advancing HISA’s mission. In June, they observed morning training at Keeneland, visited Belterra Park with the Accreditation Team, spent a day at Laurel Park and attended HISA’s Big Event Protocol for the Belmont at Saratoga. Outside of their daily responsibilities, interns are also enjoying extracurricular activities to enhance their experience such as riding off-the-track Thoroughbreds and attending the 116th Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park.  We are lucky to have the opportunity to educate them about HISA’s operations so they can take that knowledge back to wherever they land in the horseracing industry.

Introducing: Dear Lisa

Have a question about HISA’s work, racing safety, our rules or how we’re shaping the future of the sport? We want to hear from you!

In subsequent editions of the HISA Newsletter, CEO Lisa Lazarus will personally respond to one or two questions submitted by our readers. Whether you’re a trainer, owner, fan, veterinarian or regulator, this is your chance to ask Lisa directly about the topics that matter most to you.

Send your questions to hisacomms@hisaus.org with the subject line “Dear Lisa,” and your question might be featured and answered in our next issue.
 

HIWU Update

From the desk of Ben Mosier, Executive Director, Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit:

HIWU was pleased to complete a successful Triple Crown series earlier this month, which included extensive testing and investigations coverage to ensure the highest standards of integrity for all three races. We have now turned our attention to the busy months ahead, which will include not only high volumes of racing, but also frequent engagement with industry stakeholders at conferences and meetings.

Yesterday, HIWU made the bittersweet announcement that Dr. Mary Scollay has retired from full-time duties as HIWU’s chief of science. Dr. Scollay was integral to the creation of HIWU and the launch and enforcement of HISA’s ADMC Program, having served on the inaugural ADMC Committee before being named HIWU’s chief of science. We are thankful for Dr. Scollay’s service on behalf of the Thoroughbred industry, and we are grateful that we will continue to benefit from her expertise as a consultant.

With Dr. Scollay’s departure, we are excited for Dr. Michael Hardy from the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC) to join our team as acting chief of science. We are confident that he will build on our successes thus far to promote laboratory harmonization and facilitate research into novel substances that pose a threat to safety, integrity, and welfare. For the immediate future, Dr. Hardy will also maintain his role as executive director of the RMTC to ensure the organization continues to meet the needs of the racing industry.

Yesterday, we published our Q1 statistics for 2025, available here. Among the data included in the report are testing numbers nationwide, average results reporting times, and adjudication statistics. All of our quarterly statistics and annual reports are available on the HIWU website for viewing at any time.  

With summer in full swing, veterinarians and horsemen are reminded of regulations regarding the use of electrolytes in relation to races and Vets’ List workouts. Outside of these two events, electrolytes are permitted at all times.

Additionally, we recently distributed an advisory about adenosine, a vasodilator, and Hemo 15, a foreign product that lacks FDA approval. Both substances are categorized as an S0 Non-Approved Banned Substance and therefore are prohibited from Use in a Covered Horse or Possession by a Covered Person at all times. Hemo 15 and any compounded product mimicking Hemo 15, as well as any products containing adenosine, adenosine monophosphate (AMP), or adenosine triphosphate (ATP) should be disposed of immediately.

Any questions about electrolytes or Prohibited Substances should be directed to sciencesupport@hiwu.org. For general questions about the ADMC Program Rules, we encourage you to reach out to us at any time via info@hiwu.org to submit feedback. We continue to add new educational resources and videos to inform industry participants about the different components of the ADMC Program and facilitate compliance among Covered Persons.
 

Thank you again for all you do to ensure that we're moving forward together. 

Lisa Lazarus
CEO
HISA