HISA was created to implement, for the first time, a national, uniform set of integrity and safety rules that are applied consistently to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility.
The rules and regulations drafted by HISA’s Racetrack Safety and Anti-Doping and Medication Control Standing Committees are designed to enhance the safety and wellbeing of both horse and rider while ensuring the integrity of the sport for the benefit of the industry, fans and bettors. A safer, fairer sport will also be a more popular sport for generations to come.
Congress passed a bill authorizing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (“Authority”) as a private self-regulatory organization. The Authority must develop rules related to horseracing, including anti-doping, medication control and racetrack safety.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is given broad oversight over the Authority. The FTC, after providing an opportunity for public comment, must approve or disapprove any rule proposed by HISA. Civil sanctions imposed by the Authority for violations of its rules or standards may be appealed to the Commission for review by an Administrative Law Judge and by the Commission.
The Authority must also submit guidance it develops to the Commission. In addition, certain practices involving drugs are made unfair or deceptive practices under Section 5(a) of the FTC Act.
Michael Annechino
Michael Annechino is an Ohio-based owner who has been involved in Thoroughbred racing since 1980. Annechino has raced across the country, having held licenses in more than 20 states, and Canada. Specializing in the claiming game, he has campaigned more than 750 horses over the past four decades. Among his wins are 17 stakes victories. Originally from New York, he was the Executive Director/Board Member of the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association from 2020-2024.
Craig Bandoroff
Craig Bandoroff owns and operates Denali Stud with his son Conrad. Denali Stud, an 800-acre nursery located in Paris, Kentucky, is annually a leading consignor in Thoroughbred auctions in Kentucky and Saratoga. Prior to establishing Denali in 1990, Bandoroff worked at Fasig-Tipton auction house and Barry Weisbord’s Executive Bloodstock. Bandoroff was also an apprentice jockey in New Jersey before a serious injury sidelined that career.
Doug Daniels, DVM
Dr. Daniels is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, a horse owner, and has owned Virginia Equine PLLC, a private veterinary practice, since 1997 after receiving his undergraduate degree in animal science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University in 1993. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the North American Association of Racetrack Veterinarians, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Virginia Association of Equine Practitioners. In addition to his prior work as an advisor on the development of medication regulations for the Virginia Horse Racing Commission, he is currently an officer for the Virginia HBPA and has served since 2021 as President and Chairman of the Board for the National HBPA.
Kelsey Danner
Danner is a trainer based at Churchill Downs, Turfway Park and at Palm Meadows in Boynton Beach, Florida. She galloped horses for 15 years for top trainers including D. Wayne Lukas, Rusty Arnold and Carl Nafzger. Starting in 2011, Danner spent six years working as an assistant to Wayne Catalano, and she became a trainer in 2017. She is the only child of Mark Danner, a trainer since 1991, and Kelly Danner, the longtime Churchill Downs Racing operations manager who worked in media relations and horsemen relations when Kelsey was young.
Jonathan Green
Green lives in New Jersey and manages D.J. Stable, LLC, one of the largest racing and breeding operations in the country. Under his leadership, D.J. Stable has achieved international success with two Sovereign Awards, two Eclipse Awards (Jaywalk and Wonder Wheel), 14 Leading Owner Titles, over 150 stakes race victories, and 2,500 overall wins. In addition, D.J. Stable has sold over $100 million of horses at public auction. Green serves on the Executive Board of OBS and is a Breeders’ Cup Member. Green was recently elected as the Vice President of the Florida Horsemen’s Board of Directors, where he chairs the finance subcommittee.
Michael Hardy, DVM
Dr. Michael Hardy graduated from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. In 2008, he began his career as a racing regulatory veterinarian for the Kentucky Horseracing Commission. For 11 years, he served as the Chief Association Veterinarian, then transitioned to the role of Safety Director for Horseshoe Indianapolis. Dr. Hardy is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Racetrack Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC). He is also a member of the Breeders’ Cup Veterinary Panel, and has served on the Horseracing Testing Laboratory Committee and RegVets Continuing Education Program’s Committee for the RMTC.
Neil Howard
Neil Howard is a Kentucky-based, lifelong horseman who retired from over two decades of service as Gainesway Farm’s general manager in 2019. He currently serves as a management consultant for various clients. He is a former commissioner of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and has served in a number of capacities for the thoroughbred industries’ professional organizations.
Sara Langsam, VMD
Dr. Langsam is an equine veterinarian with Teigland, Franklin and Brokken DVMs (TFB), a Thoroughbred racetrack and sales practice based in South Florida and servicing much of the east coast. Dr. Langsam received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and is a 2002 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Veterinary School. Upon completion of a hospital internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, she joined TFB in 2003. In 2012, she started the Belmont Park division of TFB and is now based on her native Long Island year-round. She is an active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and has served on numerous committees. Her parents were owners and breeders, so she has been around racing her entire life.
Michael Levinson
Levinson is the racing manager and part-owner of L&N Racing, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. L&N Racing was formed in 2014 and has 30 Thoroughbreds in ownership or part ownership groups. In partnership with Winchell Thoroughbreds, Levinson’s L&N Racing campaigned Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Echo Zulu.
Shug McGaughey
Shug McGaughey is a New York-based Hall of Fame trainer and a native of Lexington, Kentucky. Historically the private trainer for the laureled Phipps Stable, McGaughey brings over 30 years of experience as a top horseman to the Horsemen’s Advisory Group. Five of McGaughey’s trainees have been inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame.
Ron Moquett
Moquett is an Oklahoma native and trainer based in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Moquett races in Arkansas, Kentucky, New York and Oklahoma. He has been a trainer since 1997 and trained 2017 Kentucky Derby hopeful Petrov. Moquett has trained multiple stakes winner Far Right, grade 1 winner Seek Gold, 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint third-place finisher Gentlemen’s Bet, and 2020 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Whitmore.
Todd Mostoller
Todd Mostoller is a Pennsylvania resident, currently serving as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. Mostoller was instrumental in the crafting of Pennsylvania’s Racehorse Development and Gaming Act, as well as the creation of New Start, a second career placement organization for retired racehorses. He is also an owner, campaigning horses under Commonwealth New Era Racing, LLC.
Gavin Murphy
Gavin Murphy is an industry member originally from Queensland, Australia. Murphy is the head of SF Bloodstock, an internationally recognized bloodstock investment fund, with breeding and racing operations in the US, Australia, and Europe. A long-time industry stakeholder, Gavin was previously employed at Soros Fund Management, has served on the Board of Directors at Breeders’ Cup and has a significant involvement with top Australian stud farm, Newgate.
John Piehowicz, DVM
Dr. Piehowicz is an equine veterinarian and founder of Cincinnati Equine, LLC. Dr. Piehowicz is a graduate of The Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine. He built an unparalleled reputation locally as a caring and compassionate veterinarian with a client list that includes 10 Kentucky Derby-winning trainers and countless Breeders’ Cup-winning trainers. He has cared for several Horse of the Year winners over the course of his career and currently cares for trainer Mike Maker’s string of runners in Northern Kentucky. Dr. Piehowicz has also given back to his community and to his profession, serving on the board of directors of the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. Dr. Piehowicz is also a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association.
Todd Pletcher
Pletcher is a Hall of Fame trainer based out of New York. Pletcher began his training career in 1996 and has trained over 5,700 winners with amassed earnings of over $480 million. Pletcher has won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer eight times. He has trained 15 Breeders’ Cup winners and 6 winners of Triple Crown races.
Justin Revak
Justin Revak is a Minnesota-based owner and managing partner of the ownership group Rocket Wrench Racing LLC. He also serves as President of the Minnesota Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and President of the Canterbury Chaplaincy Backside Foundation.
Dale Romans
Dale Romans is an Eclipse award-winning trainer from Louisville, Kentucky operating Romans Racing. Romans races in Kentucky, New York and Florida. He is a member of the Board of Directors, as well as the Vice President, of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. Romans also serves as a member of the Churchill Downs Racing Committee and the Gulfstream Park Racing Committee.
John Sadler
John Sadler is a California-based trainer and former show jumper. Sadler has been training since 1978. In addition to training multiple Eclipse Champions, Sadler was previously President of the California Thoroughbred Trainers and a member of the boards of the Edwin Gregson Foundation and the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
1. What is HISA?
Established when the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was signed into federal law in 2020, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is responsible for drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. Overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HISA was created to implement, for the first time, a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility. HISA comprises two programs: the Racetrack Safety Program, which took effect July 1, 2022, and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which took effect May 22, 2023.
The Racetrack Safety Program includes operational safety rules and national racetrack accreditation standards that seek to enhance equine welfare and minimize equine and jockey injury. The Program expands veterinary oversight, imposes surface maintenance and testing requirements, expands jockey safety measures and resources, regulates riding crop use, and implements a void claim rule, among other important measures.
The ADMC Program establishes a centralized testing and results management process and applies uniform penalties for integrity violations efficiently and consistently across the United States. These rules and enforcement mechanisms are administered by a new independent agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), established by Drug Free Sport International (DFSI). HIWU oversees testing, educates stakeholders on the new system, accredits laboratories, investigates potential integrity violations and prosecutes rule breaches.
2. Who is in charge of HISA?
HISA is led by CEO Lisa Lazarus and governed by a nine-member Board of Directors which consists of five individuals from outside the equine industry (independent directors), and four individuals selected to represent various equine constituencies (industry directors). The Board is chaired by Charles Scheeler.
HISA’s programs are led by committees of experts in their fields from inside and outside of the Thoroughbred racing industry; the ADMC Standing Committee is chaired by Charles Scheeler, and the Racetrack Safety Standing Committee is chaired by Dr. Susan Stover, DVM, Ph.D.
3. When did HISA begin governing the racing industry?
HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program took effect July 1, 2022. Its ADMC Program took effect May 22, 2023.
4. What changes can racing fans see as a result of HISA’s oversight?
The Racetrack Safety Program includes safety rules along with operational standards for racetrack accreditation. For example, under HISA’s surface maintenance and measurement standards, tracks are required to execute pre-meet inspections, monitor and test racing surface conditions on a daily basis, and make condition reports and test results available to horsemen and HISA.
Under the ADMC Program, fans see centralized testing and results management processes, shorter turnaround times for investigations/adjudication and uniform penalties that are applied consistently across the country.
5. Why is the Racetrack Safety Program important?
The importance of the Racetrack Safety Program to HISA’s mission to protect the wellbeing of equine and human athletes cannot be overstated. The Racetrack Safety Program’s national accreditation standards and safety regulations require:
- Expanded veterinary oversight
- Surface maintenance and measurement standards
- Enhanced reporting requirements
- Collection and analysis of medication, treatment, injury and fatality data
- A void claim rule
- A uniform riding crop rule
- The transfer of claimed horses’ medical information
- Jockey concussion and medical care reporting
This 360-degree approach will help vets, horsemen and all racing participants determine every horse is fit to race before setting foot on the track while also increasing understanding of the conditions that contribute to both equine and human injuries and fatalities.
6. Why was Drug Free Sport International (DFSI) chosen to administer and enforce HISA’s ADMC Program?
HISA chose DFSI as its partner to establish and implement the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program because of its exemplary record of success in its drug testing and enforcement partnerships with leading sports organizations, including the NFL, NCAA, NBA, LPGA, PGA Tour, NASCAR and MLB. DFSI is an established leader as demonstrated by its success and ongoing engagement with U.S. and international sports organizations and leagues.
7. What is the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) and how does it work?
HIWU, established as a division of Drug Free Sport International in 2022, administers the rules and enforcement mechanisms of HISA’s ADMC Program. HIWU oversees testing, educates stakeholders on the new system, accredits laboratories, investigates potential integrity violations and prosecutes rule breaches.
HIWU is led by Executive Director Ben Mosier, who has more than a decade of experience working for DFSI and has overseen anti-doping programs for the NBA, PGA Tour, MLB and NASCAR. A full list of HIWU staff and members of HIWU’s Advisory Council is available on the HIWU website.
8. Are members of the horseracing industry able to provide input to HISA?
HISA and its Standing Committees continue to seek input from a wide range of industry stakeholders, including state racing commissions, racetracks, owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys, equine veterinary groups, horsemen’s groups and others. HISA seeks feedback on its rules both formally and informally, including via the HISA Horsemen’s Advisory Group, which is made up of horseracing industry veterans from across the country who represent a broad range of views and experiences. Included among them are trainers, owners and veterinarians, as well as representatives of racing offices, backstretch employees, farriers and aftercare initiatives.
HISA greatly values input from across the racing as part of its efforts to continue to improve HISA’s programs. Comments and suggestions can be sent to feedback@hisaus.org at any time.
9. How are HISA’s Board and standing committees structured?
HISA’s Board of Directors consists of nine individuals, five of whom were selected from outside of the equine industry (independent directors), while the other four were selected to represent various equine constituencies (industry directors). The Board is chaired by Charles Scheeler.
The ADMC Standing Committee is chaired by Charles Scheeler, an independent director of the Board, and comprises four independent members and three industry members.
The Racetrack Safety Standing Committee is chaired by Dr. Susan Stover, DVM, Ph.D, an industry director of the Board, and comprises four independent members and three industry members.
In order to conduct their work in an ethical and independent manner, directors and members are subject to strict conflict of interest restrictions in order to serve in their specific roles.
10. How do I serve on HISA’s Board or standing committees?
Complete and submit the Nominee Screening Questionnaire, along with a statement of interest and resume to Anjali Salooja at anjali.salooja@hisaus.org.
11. Is HISA funded by the federal government?
No. HISA is funded by racetracks, horsemen’s groups and other racing participants.
