December 8, 2025 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) today announced the launch of a comprehensive review aimed at updating the Veterinarians’ List and Stewards’ List categories across U.S. Thoroughbred racing, with changes targeted for 2026. Through this initiative, HISA aims to modernize and harmonize these oversight tools, providing additional insights into national safety metrics.
Beginning in 2026, HISA will conduct a detailed audit of existing Veterinarians’ List and relevant Stewards’ List categories across racetracks, state racing commissions and HISA’s rules. As part of this process, HISA will distribute a comprehensive survey in early 2026 to Regulatory Veterinarians and stewards, and will conduct in-person interviews with those groups to gather information on current practices. The collected responses will be used to document the range of Veterinarians’ List practices and identify areas where differences exist across jurisdictions.
Once the information-gathering phase is complete, HISA will conduct an internal analysis of the findings to identify patterns, gaps and areas where updates may be needed. Following this review, HISA will work with its advisory groups to evaluate potential approaches for future Veterinarians’ List and Stewards’ List categories. The process will include consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, including owners, trainers, racing offices, Attending Veterinarians and other industry participants. Input from these groups will inform the development of a system that is practical, fair and aligned with the industry’s commitment to equine welfare.
“The current structure of the Veterinarians’ List and relevant Stewards’ Lists, which are based on legacy categories created decades ago, varies widely across states and racetracks and, in some cases, is no longer fit for purpose in a modern, national racing environment,” said Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, Director of Equine Safety and Welfare at HISA. “We&#8217;re thrilled to be launching this initiative, which will provide clarity, consistency and fairness in a system that affects horses, veterinarians, trainers and owners alike. As with any HISA initiative, our goal is to promote equity among all stakeholders and ensure more transparency into national safety metrics, while providing appropriate protections for horses identified as being at increased risk for injury.”
At the conclusion of this project, HISA will release its findings publicly and outline a set of modernized Veterinarians’ List and Stewards’ List categories.