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.
Amber Carlisle
Amber Carlisle is the Senior Manager of Racing Operations at Canterbury Park, where she also serves as Assistant Racing Secretary. Starting in the industry as a hot walker more than 20 years ago through the Kids to the Cup Program, Carlisle has worked at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and Colonial Downs. She is an accredited racing official through the Racing Officials Accreditation Program and is recognized for her dedication to efficient and fair race day operations.
Keith Doleshel
Keith Doleshel, the Senior Director of Racing for the New York Racing Association (NYRA), has held several key racing official positions including Racing Secretary and Assistant Racing Secretary. A graduate of the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program, Doleshel’s career includes early internships at Santa Anita Park and NYRA, sparking a lifelong commitment to racing operations. He currently serves on the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel and the North American Rating Committee.
Jason Egan
Jason Egan is the Director of Racing and Racing Secretary at Santa Anita Park. A graduate of the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program, Egan began his career working in the stable area before becoming a trainer and later transitioning to racing office leadership. He has played a key role in stakes planning and racing operations, bringing hands-on horsemanship and administrative expertise to the group
Georgeanne Hale
Georganne Hale is a trailblazer for women in racing. Currently the Senior Vice President of Racing at the Maryland Jockey Club, Hale has over four decades of experience shaping the future of horse racing in Maryland and beyond. She became the first female racing secretary at a major North American racetrack and played a pivotal role in growing iconic events such as the Preakness Stakes and Maryland Million. Hale also launched successful aftercare initiatives and philanthropic programs, mentoring women in the industry and advocating for retired Thoroughbred care.
Rick Hammerle
Rick Hammerle has spent more than 35 years as a senior racing official and executive at racetracks across the United States. He directed racing operations at Santa Anita Park for 16 years, including hosting a record seven Breeders’ Cup events, and currently serves as Director of Racing at Kentucky Downs while consulting for 1/ST Racing. Hammerle is a long-standing member of the North American Graded Stakes Committee.
David Jerkens
David Jerkens, Vice President and Racing Secretary at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, has led the racing office at the seaside oval since 2014, becoming just the 10th person to hold the role since the track’s opening in 1937. A native New Yorker and grandson of Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens, he began his career in 2000 with the New York Racing Association before serving as assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator at Golden Gate Fields, where he was later named racing secretary. Since joining Del Mar, Jerkens has worked alongside Director of Racing and Executive Vice President Tom Robbins to oversee one of the nation’s top racing programs. He has served on the Breeders’ Cup selection panel since 2020.
Eric Johnston
Eric Johnston, Director of Racing at Penn National Race Course, has more than four decades of experience in racing operations, having served as Vice President of Racing Operations at Sam Houston Race Park, Racing Secretary at both Sam Houston and Fort Erie and a Racing Official with the Maryland Jockey Club. He began his career at Penn National in 1983 and played a key role in launching Sam Houston in 1994. Johnston also served as a consultant for a Quarter Horse pilot project at Fort Erie and returned there as Racing Secretary from 2011 to 2013. He rejoined Penn National as Director of Racing in 2014, where he continues to serve today.
Mike Lakow
Mike Lakow, Vice President of Racing Operations at Gulfstream Park, has more than four decades of leadership and racing office experience, having served as Racing Secretary for NYRA, Racing Director at Santa Anita Park and General Manager at Hill ’n’ Dale Farms. He also has been a steward in Florida and Dubai, CEO of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and a jockey agent for Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano. Lakow currently sits on the Breeders’ Cup Selection Committee and North American Rating Committee.
John Lies
John Lies, who has more than 25 years of industry experience, has served as a racing secretary, announcer and simulcast host. He oversees racing operations as Racing Secretary at Will Rogers Downs and Fair Meadows in Tulsa while also calling races and setting morning line odds for multiple tracks. Lies began his career working for prominent trainers before becoming an active race caller across Southern California.
Jillian Tullock
Jillian Tullock has dedicated 35 years to racing and has worked in nearly every role in the racing office, from patrol judge and horse identifier to her current role as Racing Secretary for the Maryland Jockey Club. She is an accredited steward and has officiated at both Laurel Park and Pimlico, bringing deep knowledge of race officiating and operations. A Saratoga Springs native, Tullock was a nationally accomplished junior rider and holds a degree in Sports Management from Ithaca College.
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.
