In June, the US Supreme Court declined to take up a case involving a challenge to the oversight authority of the federal Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) by the states of Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Louisiana; their respective racing commissions; and other industry groups. Consequently, a ruling against the challenge by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit will stand. In its ruling, the Sixth Circuit affirmed the constitutionality of the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Act, which established HISA to combat widespread doping and improve racetrack safety in US thoroughbred racing. AWI worked to get this legislation passed in 2020 and provided regulatory comments to the Federal Trade Commission as new rules were developed.
Legal challenges from certain segments of the racing industry are still pending in the Fifth and Eighth Circuits, but the Supreme Court’s move strikes a serious blow to those seeking to dismantle comprehensive reforms that improve the safety of thoroughbred racing.