The Federal Horse Racing Integrity Act was first introduced in March 2020. It got bipartisan support in both the Senate and House. Sponsors of the act in the House are Representative Andy Barr and Paul Tonko.
In the Senate, its sponsors are Senators Martha McSally and Kirsten Gillibrand. The HRIA has more than 255 supporters in the House and 25 supporters in the Senate. According to bookie software reports, the horse racing industry is a significant economic driver in the US.
It offers more than $15 billion and provides jobs for 240,000 people across the nation. However, the industry had a series of misfortune events. Since December 2018, there were more than 50 horse deaths due to racing-related injuries at the Santa Anita Racecourse. Also, there were 24 fatal injuries at Belmont Park.
Federal Horse Racing Integrity Act
Earlier this year, 27 people received a federal indictment in New York. Based on pay per head sportsbook sources, they include equine veterinarians, drug companies, and trainers. As a result, there were calls for increased regulation of the horse racing industry.
The US allows the use of race-day medication. Also, it lacks uniform regulations in states that hold horse races. Each state-racing commission has its set of rules and regulations about the conduct of horse racing. Also, more than half of thoroughbred, standardbred, and quarter horses participated in races in several states within the year.
According to bookie pay per head reviews and news sites, the proposed HRIA will establish a regulatory body that will be under the Federal Trade Commission. It will be like the US Olympic Anti-Doping Agency.
The goal of the HRIA is to strengthen the anti-doping and medication control regulations. The regulating body will have a board of 13 members that include the CEO of the USADA, six members from the USADA board, and six members from within the horse racing industry.
