Racehorse Health and Safety Act

Summary#

This bill would create an interstate compact and a new organization called the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO). It would repeal the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020. The RHSO would be run by a Board of Directors and would make uniform, breed-specific rules for medication control and racetrack safety for Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and Quarter Horses. The RHSO would set testing and laboratory accreditation standards, require collection of safety and health data into a national database, and establish committees for medication control and racetrack safety. The bill describes prohibited acts (for example, use of certain drugs, refusing tests, tampering, and intimidation) and sets rules for investigations, hearings, appeals, and administrative sanctions, which may include fines, purse disgorgement, changes to race results, and lifetime bans. States may choose to enforce RHSO rules themselves or let the RHSO enforce them. RHSO rules would preempt conflicting state laws in member States. The bill also limits interstate off-track wagering to horseraces hosted in States that join the compact. The RHSO would fund its work by assessing startup and annual fees from member State racing commissions, by breed, and it may borrow money but may not accept loans from covered persons or industry representatives. Most provisions take effect 2 years after enactment or when at least 2 States join the compact; some committees and rulemaking titles take effect 90 days after that. Sections repealing the 2020 law and authorizing the compact become effective immediately upon enactment.

What it means for you#

• If you are a trainer, owner, jockey, driver, racetrack, or veterinarian involved with Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, or Quarter Horses, you would be subject to uniform, breed-specific medication and racetrack safety rules in member States.
• Covered horses would be subject to testing (blood, urine, hair) and could be barred from racing if unsound, injured, or found with prohibited substances.
• State racing commissions would either enforce RHSO rules themselves or cede enforcement to the RHSO under an agreement. RHSO rules would override conflicting state rules in member States.
• Racetracks in non-member States would generally not be allowed to permit interstate off-track wagering from member-State horseraces.
• Laboratories that test samples would need accreditation under standards selected by the RHSO.
• Individuals and entities found in violation could face investigations, hearings, administrative sanctions, and possible referral for criminal investigation.

Expenses#

The bill would fund the RHSO mainly through fees assessed to State racing commissions. It requires an initial fee to cover startup costs and annual, breed-specific assessments based on projected racing starts and the RHSO budget. States may collect those fees from sources like registration fees, sales contributions, starter fees, or track fees. The RHSO may incur debt but may not accept loans from covered persons or industry representatives. No specific dollar amounts or overall cost estimates are provided in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.