The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Board of Directors has appointed Dr. Lynn Hovda, Barry Irwin and Dr. Stephen Schumacher to serve as new members of its Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Standing Committee, effective Dec. 1, 2022. The appointments, following recommendations from the HISA Nominating Committee led by Chair Dr. Nancy Cox, fill the vacancies left by the resignations of Jeff Novitzky, Dr. Mary Scollay and Dr. Scott Stanley from the Committee.
Following the submission of the ADMC Prohibited Substances list to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for final review in October, the Committee has transitioned its focus from the drafting of new rules and regulations to advising on the implementation of HISA's ADMC Program nationwide in 2023. The day-to-day operations and administration of the ADMC Program will be handled by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU). As previously announced, departing ADMC Standing Committee member Dr. Mary Scollay has been named HIWU's Chief of Science.
“Both the outgoing and new incoming members of our Committee are deeply committed to HISA's mission to advance equine safety and strengthen the integrity of racing via a standardized, national anti-doping program,” said Adolpho Birch, ADMC Standing Committee Chair. “We are grateful for the service and time given by each of these individuals. I am confident that HISA will greatly benefit from our new members' combined decades of experience, leadership and acumen as we continue our process with the FTC and enter into a new robust, uniform era of anti-doping enforcement in 2023.”
Dr. Lynn Hovda, appointed as an industry member representing state racing commissions, is Chief Commission Veterinarian for the Minnesota Racing Commission and practices medicine at the Flying J Veterinary Clinic in Loretto, Minn. Dr. Hovda is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and sits on committees of the American Quarter Horse Association, Association of Racing Commissioners International, and Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. She previously served on committees of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Association of Regulatory Racetrack Veterinarians, and Minnesota Equine Research Council. Dr. Hovda is board certified in large animal internal medicine and received an MS in Veterinary Science from the University of Wisconsin, a DVM in Veterinary Medicine and BS in Veterinary Science from the University of Minnesota and a BS in Pharmacy from North Dakota State University. She has written and edited numerous articles and textbooks, and most recently was the primary editor for “Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Equine Toxicology.”
“I am deeply honored to be appointed to this Committee and look forward to using my knowledge in pharmacy and toxicology, as well as my years of experience as a regulatory veterinarian, to provide information and direction as the ADMC is implemented,” said Dr. Hovda.
Barry Irwin, appointed as an industry member representing owners, is owner of the Thoroughbred horse racing stable of Team Valor International in Lake Worth, Fla., and the owner and breeder of 2011 Kentucky Derby and 2013 Dubai World Cup winner, Animal Kingdom. Irwin previously served as president of the Pacifica Thoroughbreds bloodstock agency and Chairman of the Board of The Race for Education, as well as a writer for The Daily Racing Form, BloodHorse and Thoroughbred of California Magazine. Irwin continues to contribute columns today for BloodHorse, as well as other racing publications including Thoroughbred Racing Commentary and Paulick Report. He is the author of “Derby Innovator: The Making of Animal Kingdom” and “Swaps: The California Comet” of the Thoroughbred Legend books series. Irwin is a longtime member of the Water Hay Oats Alliance (WHOA), which supported the passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act in 2020. Irwin attended California State University at Los Angeles and Northridge and is a graduate of Los Angeles City College.
“Having an owner representative from WHOA on the ADMC Standing Committee is an important inclusion by HISA, and I am hopeful of making a valuable contribution to the effort of reaching a level playing field in horse racing,” said Irwin.
Dr. Stephen Schumacher, appointed as an independent member, is Chief Administrator of the United States Equestrian Federation's Equine Drugs and Medications Program, an Advisory Panel Member at the University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, and a List Group Member of the Federation Equestre Internationale. He was previously an Equine Drug Testing Veterinarian for USA Equestrian and an Equine Drug Testing Technician for the American Horse Shows Association. Dr. Schumacher serves on committees of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Equine Disease Communication Center, National Equine Health Plan, American Horse Council, and Racing Medication Testing Consortium. He received a PhD and DVM from The Ohio State University and a BS in Biology from The Citadel.
“I am honored and excited to be appointed to the ADMC Standing Committee and strongly support the introduction of national, standardized anti-doping rules in horse racing,” said Dr. Schumacher. “These standards will have a positive impact on the welfare of horses and the integrity of the sport.”
The post Hovda, Irwin, Schumacher Join HISA Anti-Doping And Medication Control Committee appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
