The Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association has updated its members following the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority announcing several rule changes to its Racetrack Safety Program that will go into effect Monday, July 8 after being approved by the Federal Trade Commission.
Chief among these changes is the increased stand-down time for fetlock corticosteroid injections, which will be 14 days before working and 30 days before racing. The stand-down time for each has doubled from the previous rules.
Updates to current prohibited practices include that foals of 2023 or later (beginning with 2-year-olds of 2025) which have had their shins pin/freeze-fired will NOT be able to participate in covered races or works.
The new rules will provide a second waiver claiming option, in which a horse returning from a layoff may make two starts with the claiming price waived, provided certain conditions are met. Those include that he waiver was in place in the horse’s first start back AND the horse did not win that race; there was no change in majority ownership; and the horse is entered for a claiming price equal to or greater than the tag for which it last started.
The void claim rule has also been updated. HISA will now be required to inform a claimant if the horse returns a positive test from the race in which it was claimed. Claimants will have 48 hours to decide whether to void the claim or keep the horse. However, if the horse has already started under new ownership, it will not be possible to void the claim.
A post-workout blood test will be required for horses coming off the vet’s list for unsoundness, epistaxis (bleeding), those that have not raced in over 365 days, or unraced 4-year-olds.
The new rules published in the FTC Register can be viewed HERE.
The FTC also approved changes to HISA’s Registration Rules, which will take effect July 1, 2024, and include the following:
Any entity that owns a Covered Horse must register with HISA; Any veterinarian who provides veterinary services to Covered Horses must register with HISA; and Responsible Persons must update a Covered Horse’s location within 24 hours and report equine fatalities within 72 hours.
The announcement can be read in its entirety HERE.
HISA to Host Webinar
HISA will be hosting a webinar for trainers Monday, July 1, at 2 p.m. ET. The webinar will cover the impact of the modified rules and will include a Q&A on the changes. To register for this webinar, click HERE. Questions can be submitted upon registration.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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