Thoroughbred trainers Dale Romans, John Sadler, Shug McGaughey and racing and bloodstock manager Gavin Murphy have joined HISA's Horsemen's Advisory Group, the body of racing industry participants formed by HISA last year to provide formal feedback to HISA's executive team and Standing Committees on the implementation and evolution of its Racetrack Safety and Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) regulations. They will replace outgoing Horsemen's Advisory Group members Rick Gold, Rick Schosberg, Donnie Von Hemel, and the late Frank Jones.
More information about each of the new members is below:
Dale Romans is an Eclipse award-winning trainer from Louisville, Ky. operating Romans Racing. Romans races in Kentucky, New York, and Florida. He is a member of the Board of Directors, as well as the Vice President, of the Kentucky Horseman's Benevolent Protection Agency. Romans also serves as a member of the Churchill Downs Racing Committee and the Gulfstream Park Racing Committee.
John Sadler is a California-based trainer and former show jumper. Sadler has been training since 1978. In addition to training multiple Eclipse Champions, Sadler was previously President of the California Thoroughbred Trainers and a member of the boards of the Edwin Gregson Foundation and the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Shug McGaughey is a New York-based Hall of Fame trainer and a native of Lexington, Ky. Historically the private trainer for the laureled Phipps Stable, McGaughey brings over 30 years of experience as a top horseman to the Horsemen's Advisory Group. Five of McGaughey's trainees have been inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame.
Gavin Murphy is an industry member originally from Queensland, Australia. Murphy is the head of SF Bloodstock, an internationally recognized bloodstock investment fund, with breeding and racing operations in the US, Australia, and Europe. A long-time industry stakeholder, Gavin was previously employed at Soros Fund Management, has served on the Board of Directors at Breeders' Cup and has a significant involvement with top Australian stud farm, Newgate.
The full list of the Horsemen's Advisory Group members can be found here.
The Group has 19 members with a wide variety of viewpoints from across racing. Its membership includes trainers, owners, veterinarians, backstretch employees and representatives of racing offices and aftercare initiatives.
“I am grateful to Rick Gold, Rick Schosberg, Donnie Von Hemel, and the late Frank Jones for their dedication to improving HISA's Racetrack Safety and ADMC programs,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “Their feedback has been integral to HISA's evolution as we work to create a fair and safe playing field for the sport. We look forward to collaborating with the new horsemen joining our group and benefitting from their years of hands-on experience in the Thoroughbred industry.”
About the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority
When the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was signed into federal law, it charged the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) with drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. Overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HISA is implementing, for the first time, a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility. HISA is comprised of two programs: the Racetrack Safety Program, which went into effect on July 1, 2022, and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which went into effect on May 22, 2023.
The Racetrack Safety Program includes operational safety rules and national racetrack accreditation standards that seek to enhance equine welfare and minimize equine and jockey injury. The Program expands veterinary oversight, imposes surface maintenance and testing requirements, enhances jockey safety, regulates riding crop use and implements voided claim rules, among other important measures.
The ADMC Program includes a centralized testing and results management process and applies uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across the United States. These rules and enforcement mechanisms are administered by an independent agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), established by Drug Free Sport International (DFS). HIWU oversees testing, educates stakeholders on the Program, accredits laboratories, investigates potential ADMC violations and prosecutes any such violations.
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