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.
Jennifer Durenberger, DVM
Director of Policy & Industry Initiatives
Dr. Jennifer Durenberger serves as HISA’s Director of Policy & Industry Initiatives. In this role, she advises HISA’s leadership and Standing Committees on emerging industry issues. She also oversees projects designed to enhance the uniform implementation of HISA’s Racetrack Safety rules and collaborates with colleagues at international governing authorities.
Dr. Durenberger is an accredited senior steward with more than 30 years of experience in Thoroughbred racing, accepting the role of HISA’s first Director of Equine Safety & Welfare in late 2022. Prior to coming to HISA, she served as The Jockey Club Steward at Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga racetracks. She is a former member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Safety and Integrity Alliance, where she served as Senior Veterinary and Regulatory Consultant, and is currently a board member of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, and has been the North American delegate to the International Harmonization of Raceday Rules Committee since 2017.
Her prior roles include Chief Examining Veterinarian for the New York Racing Association, Commission Veterinarian for the California Horse Racing Board, Association Steward at Delta Downs in Louisiana, Steward at Canterbury Park for the Minnesota Racing Commission and Director of Racing for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
Dr. Durenberger received a veterinary degree from Cornell University and a law degree from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California.
Kathleen Anderson, DVM
Dr. Kathleen Anderson graduated from Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986 and has practiced in the Mid-Atlantic region since then, focusing on Thoroughbred racehorses and elite equine athletes. She is the Equine Medical Director for Fair Hill Training Center and served as the 2016 Past President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). Dr. Anderson has held numerous volunteer leadership roles in the equine industry, including with the AAEP On Call program. She brings nearly 40 years of experience and a passion for horses to the HISA Veterinary Advisory Committee, working as a racehorse practitioner from yearling sales through retirement and second careers.
Ada Caruthers, DVM
Dr. Ada Caruthers is the Equine Medical Director for the Virginia Racing Commission, supporting the safety and integrity of racing at pari-mutuel meets with Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and steeplechase horses. Her experience spans regulatory and attending veterinary roles at racetracks and private practice at show barns and farms. Dr. Caruthers received her veterinary degree from Tuskegee University and completed an internship at New Jersey Equine Clinic. She enjoys spending time with her family on their working farm and historic home.
Ashley Daniel, DVM
Dr. Ashley Daniel graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and returned to the East Coast to work as an associate veterinarian for Maryland Veterinary Group. Prior to graduation, she spent her summers working as a technician for a racetrack veterinarian at Prairie Meadows and developed a passion for the industry. Dr. Daniel has a special interest in complex lameness cases and diagnostic imaging, alongside her general work in racetrack medicine. When not working, she enjoys gardening with her Labrador, Trapper, hiking, and competing in 3-Day Eventing with her horse Gus.
Kevin Dunlavy, DVM
Dr. Kevin Dunlavy is a 1991 graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is a founding partner of Kentucky Equine Medical Associates based in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Dunlavy has also been an active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, serving on the Professional Conduct and Ethics Committee and Racing Committee and as a spokesperson for the On Call Program.
Peter Hannigan, DVM
Dr. Peter Hannigan was born and raised in Ireland and is a second-generation equine veterinarian with a passion for horse health and performance. He practices with Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky, splitting his time between South Florida and Saratoga. Dr. Hannigan combines a deep respect for tradition with a focus on modern veterinary techniques. Outside of work, he is an avid sports fan and enjoys spending time on the golf course.
Vickie Heidlage-Williams, DVM
Dr. Vickie Heidlage-Williams graduated from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and became a Regulatory Veterinarian in March 2018 in her hometown’s Will Rogers Downs. She initially worked for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, performing pre-race exams, which expanded into working at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a commission veterinarian and as a track veterinarian for Fair Meadows and Will Rogers Downs. In 2021, she accepted a track/association veterinarian position at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and works at all three tracks today. Dr. Heidlage-Williams has also spent time during her career as an assistant owner/trainer of Thoroughbreds with her husband.
Andrew Hirschy, DVM
Dr. Andrew Hirschy graduated from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and initially worked at a Standardbred racetrack practice. He later started his own racetrack practice before transitioning into a regulatory role at Horseshoe Indianapolis (formerly Indiana Grand) in 2019. Dr. Hirschy continues to serve in this position and also works for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission at the Kentucky tracks.
Kathleen Kivi, DVM
Dr. Kathleen Kivi was born in San Diego, California and spent most of her youth in the Southern United States. in 1994, she graduated from Belmont University in Nashville with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minor in Chemistry. After graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in 2001, Dr. Kivi practiced equine and small animal medicine in the greater Toronto area for 12 years before starting her own practice in 2009. She served as Head Ontario Commission Veterinarian at Ajax Downs and assisted periodically at Woodbine Racetrack and Fort Erie Racetrack, while also serving as a veterinary judge, educator, and treatment veterinarian for Provincial, American Endurance Ride Conference and Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) events. In 2021, Dr. Kivi became a full-time regulatory veterinarian at Finger Lakes Racetrack, where she continues to serve in her primary role. In 2023, she joined the NYRA regulatory veterinarian team and also acts as supervisory veterinarian at Batavia Downs and Buffalo Raceway. She currently resides in Buffalo, New York.
Michael Manno, DVM
Dr. Michael Manno graduated from Purdue University, where he also conducted research in Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology and taught Pharmacology to Veterinary Technicians. Dr. Manno moved to California and has been practicing racetrack medicine and surgery ever since. He is a partner at San Dieguito Equine Group in San Marcos, CA, a full-service diagnostic and surgery facility. Dr. Manno has played polo for most of his adult life and has served as the Equine Welfare Chairman for the United States Polo Association for the last 7 years, overseeing their Medication Testing Program. He is currently a Governor on the Board of the United States Polo Association and serves as the Equine Delegate for the California Veterinary Medical Association.
Jamie McAnly, DVM
Dr. Jamie McAnly is a 2005 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she completed a hospital internship at Equine Services in Simpsonville, Kentucky, where she remained for two additional years as an associate. In 2008, she joined a private racetrack practice, spending winters at Palm Meadows Training Center and summers at Monmouth Park and Saratoga Race Course. In 2023, she transitioned into her current position as a Regulatory Veterinarian at Tampa Bay Downs. Since becoming a Regulatory Veterinarian, Dr. McAnly has traveled to Virginia during the summers to serve at the Colonial Downs meet.
Clayton McCook, DVM
Dr. Clayton McCook graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas Christian University and a Master of Science in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut. Additionally, he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M University in 2009. Subsequently, Dr. McCook completed a racetrack internship with Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery (ESMS), headquartered in Weatherford, Texas. Dr. McCook stayed on as an associate with ESMS and worked for the New Mexico racetrack circuit for a year before transferring to the ESMS Oklahoma division in 2011.
Justin McCormick, DVM, DACVS-LA
Dr. Justin McCormick is a second-generation equine veterinarian with a strong family background in performance horses. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Arizona, earned his veterinary doctorate from the University of California, Davis, and completed a surgical residency at Texas A&M University in 2013. After his residency, he spent 3 ½ years as a staff surgeon at the Dubai Equine Hospital before returning to Arizona with his wife, Christine, to establish their own practice, Copper Ridge Equine. They are proud parents of four girls.
Kathy Picciano, DVM
Dr. Kathy Picciano graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. After a year of general equine practice, she worked as a racing regulatory veterinarian at various tracks in the Mid-Atlantic region, working with both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. Dr. Picciano became Chief State Veterinarian for the New Jersey Racing Commission in 2018. She has been a member of the Breeders’ Cup International Veterinary Panel since 2010, collaborating with fellow panel members and commission veterinarians to ensure the safety of horses competing in the prestigious event. Dr. Picciano’s career has been dedicated to equine regulatory work, promoting best practices in the racing industry.
Lindsey Porubovich, DVM
Dr. Lindsey Porubovich grew up with horses in Arizona and was drawn to veterinary medicine from an early age. She graduated from Colorado State University in 2015 and completed a one-year internship at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital in Bonsall, CA. Dr. Porubovich developed a strong interest in sports medicine while working with a variety of performance horses during her high emergency case load. She began working with racing Thoroughbreds at San Luis Rey Training Center in 2017 and transitioned to full-time racetrack practice in 2020. In her spare time, Dr. Porubovich enjoys riding her own horses, off-roading at the sand dunes, and spending time with friends and family.
Gabrielle Rivest, DVM
Dr. Gabrielle Rivest completed her veterinary degree at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed an internship at Colts Neck Equine Associates, before becoming an associate veterinarian working with standardbred racehorses and show horses in New Jersey. Dr. Rivest then joined the Maryland Jockey Club, where she ultimately became the senior association veterinarian. As a child, she became interested in the Thoroughbred racing industry, working as a hotwalker and exercise rider and retraining off-track Thoroughbreds after their racing careers.
Lisa Santa-Emma, DVM
Dr. Lisa Santa-Emma is an experienced regulatory veterinarian at Gulfstream Park in Florida. She has been involved in Thoroughbred racing throughout her career and hails from Ohio, where she worked in private equine practice after graduating from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Santa-Emma brings both the horsemen’s and regulatory perspectives to the table and is looking forward to serving on the HISA Veterinary Advisory Committee.
Nick Smith, DVM
Dr. Nick Smith is the Chief Racing Veterinarian for the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (KHRGC). He has been a Racing Veterinarian with the KHRGC since 2011. Prior to that, Dr. Smith practiced in Dubai and Lexington, KY, concentrating on racehorses in training, yearling auction prep and pre-purchase exams.
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.
