Federal law adds much-needed oversight of all race day medications, not just Lasix

Senator Mitch McConnell has introduced the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which addresses racetrack safety and doping issues in Thoroughbred racing. The debate about drugs has gone on for years, and all too frequently, opponents of reform get hung up on Lasix. The heart of drug reform goes far beyond Lasix and needs to address the serious equine health problems brought on by performance-enhancing and misused therapeutic drugs.

Recently, Kentucky veterinarian Andy Roberts published a column in the Herald-Leader about Senator Mitch McConnell’s Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which focused on his opinion about Lasix. He wades deep into the Lasix issue and concludes by calling for a study on race-day Lasix by the national medication and safety authority that Senator McConnell’s bill would create.

But a study is already a key part of the legislation. The bill bans Lasix during the 48 hours before a race, but also would statutorily require a study of Lasix’s effect on equine health and the integrity of competition. Why does the bill contain this provision? Certainly, to allow the Lasix issue to be finally resolved, but importantly to allow the creation of real, meaningful medication reform without getting sidetracked by those in favor of, or against, Lasix.

And historic drug reform is on the horizon. Senator McConnell’s bill has been met with broad support from all corners of the horse racing industry, including endorsements from Breeders’ Cup Limited, Churchill Downs, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, The Jockey Club, Keeneland, New York Racing Association, The Stronach Group, animal welfare organizations, and numerous others.

There is also broad support across the racing industry for drug and safety reforms, including countless trainers, breeders, veterinarians, and owners. Among these supporters are thousands of horsemen who are dues-paying members of organizations such as the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, one of the country’s most prominent horsemen’s organizations, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, as well as groups like the Water Hay Oats Alliance.

The key issue behind this building wave of support is that racing needs reform to improve the health of our equine athletes and to ensure the integrity of the sport. Events of the last two years show why: we’ve had horse deaths and injuries that have gained national attention as well as the indictment of 27 people on doping charges by the U.S. Attorney in New York, both of which point to a clear breakdown in the present regulatory system. Thoroughbred horse racing is currently governed by a patchwork system of more than 30 state regulatory authorities with a wide range of rules, procedures, standards, and penalties for violators and it needs to change.

Senator McConnell’s bill will establish an independent, private, non-profit corporation to self-regulate the industry. The authority will establish and enforce medication, anti-doping, operational, and surface policies and procedures for the Thoroughbred racing industry. The medication control program will be overseen by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, the group that manages the anti-doping program for America’s Olympic athletes.

We need a national approach to equine safety and anti-doping issues, and we are thankful for Senator McConnell’s leadership in helping to bridge the divide among leaders in the industry to help forge a path forward.

It is time for the entire industry, including those advocating for the continued use of Lasix, to support a national safety organization and back meaningful drug and safety reform. We need to reject an antiquated regulatory system that clearly does not work and create a national solution for a national problem, and that is exactly what the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act will do.

Chauncey Morris is the Executive Director of Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Dan Metzger is President of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.