Horse racing is a sport watched by billions across the world annually, with many typically looking to place money on the outcome of races.
However, for more seasoned and experienced viewers of the action, it has become a life-long passion. Therefore, levels of experience within the sport is high. That means that they have greater understandings of what it takes to find a winner, and the key trends to overlook when it comes to major races on the calendar such as the Kentucky Derby, according to TwinSpires odds.
But, even the most experienced pros could be left dumfounded by some of the strictest laws that must be followed by jockeys, trainers, and owners within the sport. All of which are there to protect the integrity of the sport that has been watched for generations.
But, what are some of the most important laws followed within the world of horse racing?
HISA
HISA, otherwise known as the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, is one of the most important guidelines within the sport that must be followed by anybody within it.
Despite the sport dating back generations, HISA was only brought into operation in 2020, and since then, it has been the main practise followed by every trainer, owner, and jockey within the United States.
The act ensured that clear guidelines were evident, and if the rules are broken, it would threaten to send the sport into distribute. There are many factors involved within HISA, and it could be more informative to go into each one with more depth.
Medication
Horse welfare is always at the forefront of the racing operation, after all, they are the stars of the show.
Therefore, HISA puts extra emphasis on the medication that that each runner is able to be prescribed pre, post, and during race days. The rules carefully categorise each medication that can be used by a trainer, and when is the final time that it can be used before active competition.
Bans on medications for race day use ensure that all horses are able to run fairly, with results then showing which horse was the best on the day. Much like in other sports, those found to have breached the rules will be punished with disqualifications and bans from the sport.
USADA
The governing body in charge of ensuring that all medication rules are followed to the letter is USADA.
There have already been evidence of the body coming down hard on those that have breached the rules, with Bob Baffert handed a lengthy ban from making entries at Churchill Downs following Medina Spirit’s disqualification in the Kentucky Derby.
Off-loading testing and punishments to USADA is obviously a good decision, as it will ensure that there is no conflict of interests when big decisions need to be made. It also ensures that every race across the United States is run on a fair playing field, which ensures that all horses have a fair chance of winning.
Racetrack Standards
As mentioned previously, horse welfare at the top of the agenda when it comes to any laws that are based.
That is no different when it comes to the measures that all tracks across the United States must follow to ensure that they are fit for purpose. The Racetrack Safety Standards has been implemented by HISA since the 2020s, and much like in motorsports, it ensures that each course is monitored an assessed regularly.
This means that the body will examine the number of causalities monthly, and also make inspections throughout the year to ensure that tracks are operating at the safest environment that is possible.
Animal Welfare
Once again, HISA takes animal welfare incredibly seriously, meaning that there are a number of aspects in place to safeguard the true stars of the show. Among these include veterinary oversights, meaning that regular checks are monitored and must be completed by trainers and owners. This also includes treatment plans overseen by professionals in the case of injury.
Training methods are also closely monitored by HISA in this modern day to ensure that certain methods that have been used previously and found to harm horses are no longer in operation across the United States.
As you would expect, HISA enforces this animal welfare regulations very seriously, and punishments if found in breach of any of the rules could see trainers banned from the sport, while fines could also be imposed. Keeping horses safe at the heart of the operation.
Is it Different Overseas?
The British Horseracing Authority is the closest thing to HISA overseas, and like the American laws, the UK also come down very hard on breaches.
However, the big difference between the laws is the fact that there are stricter betting regulations in Britain. Owners or trainers that are found to have impacted markets in a way to make money are punished in the forms of bans and disqualifications.
