WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY-01) and U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) today introduced the ‘Interstate Horseracing Improvement Act of 2011,' to end the use of performance enhancing drugs in the sport of horseracing.
The industry's permissive medication rules have resulted in some unscrupulous trainers giving horses painkillers and other drugs to improve their chances of success without regard for health or safety. This can mean that horses run as fast as possible without feeling the pain that might otherwise provide warnings to prevent catastrophic injury to horse and jockey.
The Whitfield-Udall legislation, introduced today in both chambers, would improve the safety and integrity of the sport by amending the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, a federal law governing horseracing. Under the bill, race tracks that provide "simulcast" or Internet wagering must ban performance-enhancing drugs and test the winning horse plus one additional horse from each race. The legislation also would require stiff penalties for doping violations, including fines and a "three strikes you're out" rule.
"This weekend, the very best of horseracing will be on display at the Kentucky Derby. Yet, for too long, the safety of jockeys and equine athletes has been neglected for the pursuit of racing profits," Rep. Whitfield said. "The doping of injured horses and forcing them to compete is deplorable and must be stopped. Despite repeated promises from the racing industry to end this practice, meaningful action and oversight has yet to come forth. This legislation will bring much-needed reforms to an industry that supports thousands of jobs and is enjoyed by spectators nationwide."
"Chemical warfare is rampant on American racetracks, and unlike other countries, our law does not reject this unscrupulous practice. A racehorse has no choice when it comes to using performance-enhancing drugs, but this legislation takes away that option from those who would subject these magnificent animals to such abuse for gambling profit. Those involved in horseracing will have to play by the rules or face getting kicked out of the sport," Sen. Udall said.
Horseracing was once the number one spectator sport in the country and still supports nearly 400,000 jobs domestically. Yet it has seen a decades-long decline in popularity since the introduction of permissive medication rules. The Interstate Horseracing Improvement Act is the first Congressional attempt to ban doping in horseracing since similar legislation was considered in the 1980s.
Unlike other countries, racing jurisdictions in the United States allow horses to be medicated on race day. And there are numerous examples of trainers who have violated medication rules multiple times, seemingly with impunity. A recent Racing Commissioners International letter notes that one trainer has been sanctioned at least 64 times in nine different states for various rule violations, including numerous violations of drug rules. According to the New York Times, only two of the top 20 trainers in the United States (by purses won) have never been cited for a medication violation.
Rep. Whitfield and Sen. Udall serve on the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over the Interstate Horseracing Act. Whitfield is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Udall is a member of the Senate Commerce Committee.
