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NTRA To Launch Conference, Workshop Focusing On Racing, Training, And Event Surfaces

Comprehensive, science-based discussions and demonstrations on maintaining safe racing, training and event surfaces, along with an explanation of how to participate in the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) racing surface regulations and the processes for HISA implementation and reporting, highlight the NTRA Racecourse Managers' Conference and Workshop to be held March 6-8, 2022 at South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas.

The Racecourse Managers' Conference and Workshop, which will be offered free to all registered attendees, will begin on Sunday, March 6 with an opening reception in South Point's Equestrian Center and will be followed by a day and a half of discussions and demonstrations.

The full agenda will be announced in January, but confirmed speakers and topics include:

Dennis Moore, Racetrack Consultant and Superintendent, will demonstrate the use of lasers for grade measurements and how to check grades on horse racing and arena surfaces;
The Equine Sports Turfgrass Alliance, a group of university and industry professionals developing education and research for the equine sports turfgrass industry, will host a session on the development of testing methods for surface testing of cross-country courses in British and North American Eventing;
Glen Kozak, Senior Vice President of the New York Racing Association (NYRA), will lead a panel that discusses the HISA Surfaces Regulations and the process for implementation and reporting;
Oliver Hoberg, Footing Expert for the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the international governing body for equestrian sports, and Lars Roepstorff from the Swedish University of Agriculture, a veterinarian and equine surgeon and one of the world's leading experts on equine footing surfaces, will discuss the use of FEI criteria and practical implications for FEI 5* events and Olympic equestrian facilities;
Kaleb Dempsey, Materials Engineer at Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory (RSTL), will demonstrate the integrated track tester which can measure moisture and cushion depth on dirt tracks as well as monitor the condition of turf tracks; and
Mackenzie Rockefeller, Manager at Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, will demonstrate the new Maintenance Quality System (MQS) database developed by The Jockey Club which will allow reporting for the HISA data to be produced automatically.

For additional information and to register for the conference, contact Danae Fryman at dfryman@NTRA.com.

About the NTRA
The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders consisting of horseplayers, racetrack operators, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity, welfare and integrity of Thoroughbred racing through consensus-based leadership, legislative advocacy, safety and integrity initiatives, fan engagement and corporate partner development. The NTRA owns and manages the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance; NTRA.com; the Eclipse Awards; the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC); NTRA Advantage, a corporate partner sales and sponsorship program; and Horse PAC®, a federal political action committee. NTRA press releases appear on NTRA.com and social media.

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Organization Of Racing Investigators Schedules March 27-30 Conference At Aqueduct

The Organization of Racing Investigators will be holding their 2022 conference at Aqueduct racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., on March 27-30, ORI chair Jean Claude Jaramillo has announced.

The 2021 ORI conference was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), co-sponsor of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, has accepted an invitation to be keynote speaker at the conference. The legislation, passed into law in December 2020, created the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority that is scheduled to begin national oversight of medication rules and enforcement by July 1, 2022.

Other items and speakers on the preliminary agenda for the ORI conference:

William Behe, assistant U.S. attorney, for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, will speak about the investigation into corruption at Penn National.
Five topics reflecting the current “points of emphasis” from the Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) to ensure ORI members who have ROAP accreditation receive their required continuing education hours.

All agenda items are subject to change.

Members of the Organization of Racing Investigators, established in 1991, are responsible for investigations associated with racing and are employed by government, police, and regulatory entities as well as private security firms and racetracks.

ORI members have successfully investigated race fixing, horse doping, animal abuse, drug abuse, money laundering, cyber crime, fraud, conspiracy, and a host of other infractions of the laws and rules that govern horse racing and pari-mutuel activity.

ORI members assist with drug testing programs, conduct background investigations and cooperate with law enforcement agencies at all levels of government.

Qualified professionals interested in joining or renewing ORI membership and registering for the conference should click here.

Beginning Jan. 10, conference attendees may begin making reservations with the ORI-designated accommodation site, the Hilton New York JFK Airport hotel, for the nightly rate of $159 plus tax. The Hilton is an approximately ten-minute drive from Aqueduct Racetrack. Call the hotel directly at 718-659-0200 or 800-445-8667.

A reminder to those planning to attend the conference: To comply with New York City regulations, all individuals seeking to enter Aqueduct racetrack must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to gain admittance.

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Hayward: ‘No Other Realistic Option’ Besides USADA To Enforce HISA

Longtime racing executive Charles Hayward published a commentary at thoroughbredracing.com on Tuesday, suggesting that the demise of negotiations between the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency could spell the end of horse racing in the United States.

“If the USADA/HISA business arrangement does not get done, I cannot imagine that horseracing and breeding has a future in the U.S.,” Hayward wrote. “While this is not a problem of anyone's making on either side, the harsh reality is, if the two parties cannot find a clear path forward, there are no 'other leading independent enforcement agencies' that can properly fill the void.”

Citing the federal investigation that led to the high-profile arrests of trainers Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis, Hayward argued that the individual state racing organizations have proven they are unable to police the sport effectively.

In addition, Hayward argues that the USADA was poised to take a “broader role” than simply enforcement. He cited the USADA's statement in it's 2020 annual report: “USADA has been assigned the anti-doping responsibilities detailed in the [HISA] Act and will implement uniform rules through an independent model in service of clean competition and participant safety. Throughout 2021 and beyond, USADA and the relevant authorities will establish and manage a robust system that includes education, testing, results management and investigation.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

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Unable To Reach Final Terms: Horseracing Integrity And Safety Authority Suspends Negotiations With USADA

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) announced the suspension of negotiations pertaining to USADA's potential future role as the independent enforcement agency for HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) program. As mandated by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020, USADA and HISA had been engaged in good faith negotiations but were unable to reach final terms. To date, USADA has led the process of authoring draft rules for HISA's ADMC program. As set forth in the HISA statute, the Authority is evaluating options for engagement with other leading independent enforcement agencies.

The draft Racetrack Safety regulations that were submitted to the FTC earlier this month will be implemented as scheduled by the FTC on July 1, 2022, following review, public comment and education periods. There will be a temporary delay in submission of the Anti-Doping and Medication Control draft rules to the FTC until a new independent agency can be identified and an agreement finalized. This will allow HISA and another independent enforcement agency to reach an agreement and build on the progress that has been made to-date with USADA. HISA anticipates this process will permit the full implementation of the final ADMC rules in early 2023.

“We are deeply grateful for USADA's hard work, expertise and leadership in working with HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Committee to develop comprehensive draft rules in a remarkably short period of time,” said HISA Board Chair Charles Scheeler. “HISA will continue our search for an independent enforcement agency to oversee the Medication Control protocols. The Authority will also work with the FTC to ensure the Racetrack Safety Program advances on schedule. When operational, the program will provide critical enhancements to protect the health and safety of equine and human athletes.”

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