National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association

Straight Talk About HISA: NHBPA, ARCI CEOs To Appear On Kentucky Racing Spotlight This Friday

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), legislation scheduled to go into effect July 1, will be the subject of a special edition of Kentucky Racing Spotlight this Friday from 6-7 p.m. ET on Louisville's ESPN 680 AM.

Eric Hamelback and Ed Martin, the CEOs respectively of the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (NHBPA) and the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI), will be the featured guests discussing one of the most fundamental changes to the administrative structure of horse racing in history. Peter Ecabert, the National HBPA's general counsel, also will participate.

HISA general counsel John Roach and the HISA Authority's interim executive director Hank Zeitlin declined invitations to take part.

“We look forward to opportunities for discussion with you after Lisa Lazarus takes on her role as CEO next month,” Zeitlin responded in an email.

Roach and Zeitlin referenced pending litigation as the reason for not participating. The National HBPA and 12 of its state affiliates have a lawsuit pending in Federal District Court in Lubbock, Texas. Additionally, nine individual states, along with two state racing commissions and the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association, filed a separate suit in Federal District Court in Lexington, Ky.

The National HBPA believes HISA is an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority to a private non-governmental organization – the Authority. The Kentucky HBPA, the radio show's presenting sponsor, did not join the suit, though it was represented on the National HBPA's executive committee that voted unanimously to pursue a legal challenge.

HISA is now the acronym for both the legislative act and the regulatory Authority the law created.

The HISA legislation was passed by Congress in late 2020 and included as part of a year-end spending and Covid-19 relief bill. The law grants the Authority broad powers to create, regulate and enforce rules with respect to medication/drug, safety and integrity matters for thoroughbred racing in the United States. The Authority is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission, which must approve any regulations it proposes. Currently, regulations have been submitted to the FTC and published for public comment, others await submission, while no regulations have been approved or disapproved.

“We are less than 5 1/2 months from HISA's legislatively mandated implementation,” said Kentucky Racing Spotlight co-host Jennie Rees, a veteran turf journalist who works as a communications consultant for both the National and Kentucky HBPA along with other entities in horse racing. “Our show by design is not political. HISA is clearly a polarizing issue, but we thought this close to such a paradigm shift in thoroughbred racing that it was important to get straight talk, facts and informed perspective about what it means for the industry – including racing's consumers, the horseplayers – without the rhetoric or heated emotions.

“We are disappointed that HISA thus far has declined to participate. The invitation remains. I dare say the majority of racing participants – including many supporting or opposing the law – have no idea what is and isn't in the legislation. We wanted to take one step toward changing that.”

The National HBPA represents close to 30,000 licensed owners and trainers throughout America, making it the largest thoroughbred horsemen's organization in the world. ARCI is the umbrella organization of the official regulatory and rule-making bodies for horse and greyhound racing throughout North America and parts of the Caribbean. The organization's members heretofore were the only independent entities recognized to license, enforce and adjudicate matters pertaining to racing.

Kentucky Racing Spotlight, co-hosted by Joe Clabes, airs weekly through March 4 on ESPN 680-AM/105.7 FM, the region's sports-talk leader. The program also will be streamed live at espnlouisville.com, on the ESPN 680 app and the TuneIn and iHeart apps. The replay will be available on espnlouisville.com under the podcasts tab. All shows also are archived at davisinnovation.com/kyracing.

Kentucky Racing Spotlight is also sponsored by Davis Innovation equine marketing, the Louisville Thoroughbred Society and NKYTribune.com.

Previous shows archived at
https://www.davisinnovation.com/kyracing

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Lukas to be Keynote Speaker at HBPA Convention

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will deliver the keynote address at the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA)'s annual convention in March. The conference will be held Mar. 1-5 at Oaklawn Park's new hotel overlooking the first turn.

“When we seek out our keynote speaker, we look for inspiration and passion,” said Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA. “Not only do we get that in spades with D. Wayne Lukas, but his overall legacy is unmatched in horse racing. Yet it's not only that Wayne has impacted so many aspects of racing with his well-known accomplishments and vision. He also has been an extraordinary ambassador for our industry in so many unpublicized and behind-the-scenes ways. There's no telling how many little kids will become diehard racing enthusiasts because D. Wayne invited them into the winner's circle after one of his victories.”

Lukas, 86, will give his address Wednesday, Mar. 2. The convention will also include legal topics and discussions centering on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA); crisis-management recommendations; ideas for creating positive interactions with local, state, and federal representatives; ways to utilize the guest-worker visa programs; fixed odds' place in American racing; and the annual Kent Stirling Memorial Medication Panel addressing the need for screening limits. Other speakers will include Louis Cella, president of Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.

For more information, visit nationalhbpa.com.

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‘Horse Who Gives You Everything’: Frost Or Frippery Honored As Claiming Crown Horse Of The Year

Steve Landers calls Frost Or Frippery “as hard-hitting a horse” as he's ever owned. There's no better example than the gelding's nose victory in the $75,000 Claiming Crown Kent Stirling Memorial Iron Horse. That day, the 7-year-old was shut off and had to check hard heading into the first turn, got shuffled back on the far turn, rallied to take the lead 70 yards out, then held on by mere inches.

Off that game performance and an 8-for-13 record (with four seconds) last year, Frost Or Frippery is honored as the 2020 Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, selected by the Industry Awards Committee of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA). Frost Or Frippery will be recognized at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's 36th annual awards dinner Sept. 11 at Hill 'n' Dale Farm at Xalapa in Paris, Ky.

“He's not the most expensive horse I've ever had, but he showed the most heart,” said Landers, a prominent Arkansas auto dealer and long-time horse owner. “That's what it's all about: a horse who gives you everything he's got.”

Landers and trainer Brad Cox claimed Frost Or Frippery for $20,000 at Oaklawn Park on April 30, 2020. He won his first four starts and seven of nine overall for those connections. The gelding raced once at Oaklawn in January and subsequently sustained a training injury. He was retired after a career that saw him go 22-12-13 in 67 starts for earnings of $381,918.

All but six of the Maryland-bred's starts came in claiming races or under starter-allowance conditions. The 1 1/16-mile Kent Stirling Memorial Iron Horse is for horses that at some point ran for an $8,000 claiming price or cheaper.

The Claiming Crown at Gulfstream Park marked the 10th track at which Frost Or Frippery competed.

“The hallmark of a good horse is one that is honest and tries every time, no matter their level,” Cox said. “Frost Or Frippery wasn't the best or the fastest, but he was as honest as they come. I'm glad the Claiming Crown rewards such horses and their owners.”

The Claiming Crown program is a partnership between the National HBPA and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). It was launched in 1999 to be the claiming horse owners' Breeders' Cup, a special event showcasing the blue-collar stalwarts that fill the majority of races in America.

“The group of horses that competed in the 2020 Claiming Crown provided a solid display of talent and class,” said Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA. “The event was designed as a means of featuring and promoting claiming-level horses while demonstrating to owners that claiming your way to success is an extremely important aspect within our industry. Frost Or Frippery exemplifies the true spirit of the Claiming Crown event, and we congratulate all the connections.”

Landers said he's touched that Frost Or Frippery is being recognized as the Claiming Crown Horse of the Year.

“Because of how tough the horse was,” Landers said. “He knew what he was doing. Didn't act stupid in the paddock, just went straight out there and did his job. It meant a lot for him to win it, because there are a lot of claiming horses in the country. That's what the Claiming Crown is about: being the best at what they do. He acted like a more-expensive horse, like high-dollar, more class-type horse than he really was. But he didn't know what his class was. He'd just go out there and win.”

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Equine Veterinarian, Owner Dr. Doug Daniels Elected National HBPA President

Horse owner and equine veterinarian Dr. Doug Daniels has been elected president of the National Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, which represents thoroughbred racing owners and trainers through affiliates in a number of states.

Daniels, who was unopposed for the National HBPA presidency, has been vice president of the Virginia HBPA and a member of the National HBPA's executive committee since 2019. He succeeds Leroy Gessmann, who had been president since 2015. In addition to his own Virginia Equine PLLC veterinary practice, Daniels has and continues to work for the Virginia Racing Commission when needed as a regulatory veterinarian at the commonwealth's thoroughbred, standardbred and steeplechase race meets.

Jami Poole, president of the Mountaineer HBPA who chaired the nominating committee, said of Daniels: “Having someone with the credentials of Dr. Daniels lead the National HBPA speaks to the commitment of our organization, and should be a message to all that we are leading into the future and we are 'horsemen helping horsemen.'”

“It's a pivotal time for the industry in general,” Daniels said. “I feel very fortunate to be involved and to have the opportunity to give back to an industry that's been good to me personally and professionally. My hope and my goal would be to use my education and my work experience and knowledge of equine medicine to the betterment of the membership.”

He takes over the helm at a time when the National HBPA is challenging in federal court in Texas the legality of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). The National HBPA long has advocated for enhanced safety regulations, security and tougher sanctions for cheaters but believes policies must be implemented with transparency and input from horsemen's and veterinary representative groups.

“Because of the pending federal legislation, I feel like this is a good time for the membership to have a veterinarian with a voice to look out for their interests,” Daniels said.

As a horse owner who keeps a couple of racehorses in training as well as a broodmare or two at any time, Daniels said he “all too painfully” knows the concerns facing owners.

“If there is some noise to be made, some massaging or finessing to be done, I plan to be all up in it,” he said of the challenges facing owners and trainers. “Medication policy, worker's compensation and immigration issues are going to require a lot of continued attention.

“I definitely enjoy what I do for a living, and I couldn't imagine doing anything else. But I'm looking forward to branching out into this next aspect of my professional career. It's one I've not taken lightly and it's one I discussed with my family at length before taking this step. I'm excited about it. I'm excited about the people I'll be working with at the HBPA, in particular with (CEO) Eric Hamelback. We're so lucky to have him. He makes my position so much easier.”

Daniels grew up in Kansas, his parents raising and racing horses in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas. He attended undergraduate and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University, graduating cum laude. Daniels ventured into horse ownership once his vet practice became established. He has raced in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Daniels was elected at the National HBPA's full board meeting late last week at Prairie Meadows racetrack in Altoona, Iowa, which included the election of all National HBPA Officers. The only change other than the election of president Daniels was that of the National HBPA's East Region vice president. The East Region affiliates elected Sandee Martin, president of the Pennsylvania HBPA. Re-elected as vice presidents were: Kentucky HBPA president Rick Hiles (Southern Region), Arizona HBPA vice president Lloyd Yother (West Region) and Indiana HBPA president Joe Davis (Central Region). Hiles also remains in the position of first National HBPA vice president. The secretary-treasurer, an appointed position, remains Lynne McNally, executive vice president of the Nebraska HBPA.

Hamelback concluded with saying the overall meeting was positive and productive. He said among the topics discussed at the meeting were fixed-odds wagering on horse racing and the importance of revenue sharing for horse owners, legislative efforts revolving around H2B and H2A visa programs, continued discussions of HISA implementation, and the signature Claiming Crown. Additionally, the NHBPA Full Board recognized and approved an affiliate, the New Mexico Horsemen's Association. That organization will be returning with its members as an affiliate under the National HBPA.

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