Operational Bulletins

As a reminder, any Veterinarian who treats or examines a Covered Horse must timely submit treatment information to the Authority’s database. For treatments, procedures and surgeries performed at a location that is not a Training Facility or is not licensed by a State Racing Commission, the Veterinarian must submit to the Authority the information contained in HISA Rule 2251(c), including:
<ol>
<li>Name and HISA ID of the Covered Horse or, if unnamed, the registered name of the dam and year of foaling*;</li>
<li>Name and HISA ID of the Responsible Person for the Covered Horse*;</li>
<li>Name and HISA ID of the Veterinarian*;</li>
<li>Contact information for the Veterinarian (phone number, email address)*;</li>
<li>Any information concerning the presence of unsoundness;</li>
<li>Summary of all diagnostic tests and test results;</li>
<li>Any intra-articular diagnostic and therapeutic medications administered or prescribed, including the date and time of the treatment;</li>
<li>Administration of Shock Wave Therapy, including the date and time of the Shock Wave Therapy; and</li>
<li>Any surgical procedure performed, including the date and time of the procedure.</li>
</ol>
* These first four fields will populate automatically for any horse and Veterinarian registered with HISA.
This reporting is essential for identifying high-risk practices that may lead to injury or illness. Understanding the use of medications, treatments, examinations and surgical procedures helps correlate specific practices with health outcomes. By collecting and analyzing this information alongside injury and illness data, we can develop targeted strategies to prevent harm and improve equine welfare.
Treatment information must be reported to the Authority in electronic format, either directly through the HISA Portal, HISA’s MedEnt app (available in the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hisa-medent-app/id6468080597">Apple Store here</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hisausapps.medent">Google Play here</a>) or any other veterinary software provider integrated with HISA’s database.
For more information on HISA’s requirements for Veterinarians treating Covered Horses at locations other than a Covered Racetrack, please see HISA’s <a href="https://hisaus.org/resources/handbook-for-veterinarians-practicing-off-the-racetrack-effective-july-8-2024">Handbook for Veterinarians Practicing off the Racetrack</a> (updated in July, 2024).
The above is a summary of a Veterinarian’s reporting obligations and is not exhaustive of the requirements established under HISA Rule 2251(c). To understand the full requirements under HISA Rule 2251, please review the full text of HISA Rule 2251(c), available <a href="https://bphisaweb.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rule-2000-Series_05.02.25.pdf">here</a>.
If you have any questions, please call our Help Desk at 1-877-513-2919, and we will be happy to assist you.

Veterinary Advisory: Reporting of Covered Horse Treatment Information for Veterinarians Practicing at Locations Other Than Covered Racetracks

As a reminder, any Veterinarian who treats or examines a Covered Horse must timely submit treatment information to the Authority’s database. For treatments, procedures and surgeries performed at a location licensed by a State Racing Commission or a Training Facility, the Veterinarian must submit to the Authority the information contained in HISA Rule 2251(b), including:
<ol>
<li>The identity of the Covered Horse treated*;</li>
<li>The name of the Responsible Person of the Covered Horse*;</li>
<li>The name of the Veterinarian*;</li>
<li>Contact information for the Veterinarian (phone, email address)*;</li>
<li>Any information concerning the presence of unsoundness and responses to diagnostic tests;</li>
<li>Diagnosis;</li>
<li>Condition treated;</li>
<li>Any medication, drug, substance or procedure administered or prescribed, including date and time of dose, route of administration (including structure treated if local administration), frequency and duration (where applicable) of treatment;</li>
<li>Any non-surgical procedure performed (including but not limited to diagnostic tests, imaging and Shock Wave Therapy) including the structures examined/treated and the date and time of the procedure;</li>
<li>Any surgical procedure performed including the date and time of the procedure; and</li>
<li>Any other information necessary to maintain and improve the health and welfare of the Covered Horse.</li>
</ol>
* These first four fields will populate automatically for any horse and Veterinarian registered with HISA.
This reporting is essential for identifying high-risk practices that may lead to injury or illness. Understanding the use of medications, treatments, examinations and surgical procedures helps correlate specific practices with health outcomes. By collecting and analyzing this information alongside injury and illness data, we can develop targeted strategies to prevent harm and improve equine welfare. Treatment information must be reported to the Authority in electronic format, either directly through the HISA Portal, HISA’s MedEnt app (available in the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hisa-medent-app/id6468080597">Apple Store here</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hisausapps.medent">Google Play here</a>) or any other veterinary software provider integrated with HISA’s database.
For more information on HISA’s requirements for Veterinarians treating Covered Horses on the Racetrack, please see HISA’s <a href="https://hisaus.org/resources/attending-veterinarian-handbook-effective-july-8-2024">Attending Veterinarian Handbook</a> (updated in July, 2024).
The above is a summary of a Veterinarian’s reporting obligations and is not exhaustive of the requirements established under HISA Rule 2251(b). To understand the full requirements under HISA Rule 2251, please review the full text of HISA Rule 2251(b), available <a href="https://bphisaweb.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rule-2000-Series_05.02.25.pdf">here</a>.
If you have any questions, please call our Help Desk at 1-877-513-2919, and we will be happy to assist you.

Veterinary Advisory: Reporting of Covered Horse Treatment Information for Veterinarians Practicing on Covered Racetracks

NOVEMBER 4, 2024 &#8211; Following a resolution proposed by HISA’s Horsemen’s Advisory Group, which was also supported by the Thoroughbred Horsemen&#8217;s Association, HISA’s Board of Directors announces the following policy change effective immediately regarding the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program and the imposition of Provisional Suspensions of Covered Persons. Commencing immediately, the HISA Board has requested that the Horseracing Integrity &amp; Welfare Unit (HIWU) limit the circumstances under which they exercise their discretion to impose a Provisional Suspension on Covered Persons.
The HISA Board has determined that further analysis and review on the issue of Provisional Suspensions is necessary to determine whether any modifications to the current rules are appropriate. While this review takes place, the HISA Board requests that HIWU impose Provisional Suspensions only under circumstances where (i) a Covered Person has more than one horse test positive for the same Banned Substance; (ii) a barn search leads to the discovery of the same Banned Substance for which the Covered Person is being charged under the ADMC program; and/or (iii) the alleged violation presents a substantial risk to the integrity of racing and/or the welfare of horses. Consequently, all Provisional Suspensions that do not fall within any of these defined categories will be lifted today, November 4, 2024.
The lifting of the Provisional Suspension is not a stay of the Equine Anti-Doping Notice or Charge or the ADMC Program proceedings with respect to the matter, with the exception of Presence cases for Metformin. HIWU will be moving forward with these matters under the applicable ADMC Program Rules.

HISA Announcement Regarding Provisional Suspensions

Attention Attending Veterinarians,
HISA has introduced a new treatment record type: Mandatory Attending Veterinarian Inspection.
<ol>
<li>A ‘Cleared to Work’ Result indicates that a horse has been inspected by an Attending Veterinarian and has been found fit to work.</li>
<li>A ‘Cleared to Race’ Result indicates that a horse has been inspected by an Attending Veterinarian and has been found fit to race,</li>
</ol>
You also have the option to not clear the horse, which will affect the Can-Work and Can-Race status of the horse.
Resources
An educational video demonstrating how to enter this new type of treatment record is available <a href="https://hisausregs.org/reg-document-video/958504508">here</a>.
If you have any questions, please contact our Help Desk at 1-877-513-2919, and we will be happy to help you.

New Treatment Record Type: Mandatory Attending Veterinarian Inspection

Attention:
We are excited to that announce a new “Windows-Like” experience will now be available for managing Track Files. This feature offers a familiar Windows File Explorer interface where documents are organized into folders and subfolders. Depending on your role at the track, you may have:
<ul>
<li>Full access to track documentation</li>
<li>Limited access based on document type and your permissions</li>
</ul>
We have created an <a href="https://hisausregs.org/reg-document-video/962288082">educational video</a> to help navigate these new features.
For further questions, please reach out to the HISA Help Desk at 1-877-513-2919, and we will be happy to assist you.

New File Storage System in Track Details

Attention Portal Users,
We are updating the display of the CAN-RACE shield next to a horse in the portal. Beginning June 24, 2024, the Can-Work/Can-Race shield will now display in red, green or two-toned. For example, a shield that is green on top and red on the bottom signifies that the horse is cleared to work but cannot race.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-4162" src="https://bphisaweb.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CanRaceCanWorkShields-300x278.png" alt="" width="300" height="278" srcset="https://bphisaweb.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CanRaceCanWorkShields-300x278.png 300w, https://bphisaweb.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CanRaceCanWorkShields.png 483w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Hover your mouse over the shield to learn more about the meaning of the colors and their placement on the shield icon.
Watch this <a href="https://hisausregs.org/reg-document-video/960391312">short video</a> for more information related to the Can-Work/Can-Race shield.
If you have any questions, please call our Help Desk at 1-877-513-2919, and we will be happy to assist you.
&nbsp;
The HISA Team
&nbsp;

Changes to the Can-Race Shield in the HISA Portal

Hello. We are reaching out to inform you of a change to the claiming process in the HISA Portal. This change will be effective on Monday, June 24, 2024.
The new process will ensure that all claims and voided claims are recorded in accordance with HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program.
It is crucial that claims are processed in a timely manner so that all information associated with a Covered Horse is accurate and up to date.
In the event that a claim is deemed an automatic void (horse is euthanized, vanned off the racetrack, or critically injured), the claim must still be processed through the HISA Portal and then subsequently voided to ensure the horse’s claiming history is complete.
Benefits of the changes:
<ul>
<li>Claiming Clerks will be able to:
<ul>
<li>Process multiple claims in one session. It’s way more efficient than the previous method.</li>
<li>Void a claim within the same session. It’s no longer a separate step you have to take.</li>
<li>Process claims faster.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>New Designated Owners and Responsible Persons will have an easier time entering the claimed horse into a race if all the information is correct in the HISA Portal.</li>
</ul>
Resources:
We have produced educational materials (<a href="https://hisausregs.org/reg-document-video/957194073">Video</a> &amp; <a href="https://hisa-resources-public.s3.amazonaws.com/the-claiming-process-visual-guide.pdf">Visual Guide</a>) to help you learn about this new process. If you require additional assistance, please contact the Help Desk at 1-877-513-2919 and we will be happy to help you.
We are also hosting a virtual training session on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at 12 pm Eastern Standard Time:
Topic: New Claiming Process
Time: Jun 25, 2024 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
&nbsp;
Join Zoom Meeting
<a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84966750752?pwd=uwzftfisSsdWmpBv9ht01p7naVZIQF.1">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84966750752?pwd=uwzftfisSsdWmpBv9ht01p7naVZIQF.1</a>
&nbsp;
Meeting ID: 849 6675 0752
Passcode: 612532
&nbsp;
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&nbsp;
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,84966750752#,,,,*612532# US
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&nbsp;
Thank you for your continued support,
The HISA Team

Changes to HISA Portal Claiming Process

This afternoon, the Louisiana State Racing Commission held an Emergency Public Meeting at which the Commission voted to rescind in full the emergency updates to Louisiana’s controlled medication schedule for thoroughbred racing, which reportedly were set to take effect tomorrow in Louisiana (the “Emergency Rule”).  With the complete rescission of the Emergency Rule, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Inc. (“HISA”) will not require Covered Horses shipping from Louisiana to a HISA jurisdiction to be placed on the HISA Veterinarians’ List as medically compromised and unfit to race as announced in the June 5, 2024 Memorandum.  HISA appreciates the Commission’s willingness to reconsider this important matter.

Update to HISA’s June 5th Memorandum

JUNE 4, 2024 &#8211; Following the recommendation of the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (“ADMC”) Standing Committee, the Board of Directors of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (“HISA”) announces the following policy change effective immediately regarding the ADMC Program with respect to the Banned Substance metformin. Commencing immediately, the HISA Board has requested that HIWU defer active Provisional Suspensions for metformin positives. 
“In line with HISA’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control requirements, metformin is included in the Prohibited Substances List because there is no recognized therapeutic use for the substance in horses involved in Thoroughbred racing. In addition, HIWU has intelligence that some horsemen may be using metformin to try and gain a performance advantage. However, there is limited scientific information available regarding the substance’s use in horses.  The HISA Board feels that further expert analysis on the topic is necessary to determine if any refinement of HISA’s rules is appropriate,” said Charles Scheeler, Chairman of the HISA Board.   
Consequently, HISA and HIWU have asked the Racing Medication &amp; Testing Consortium’s (RMTC) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to conduct a review of the available science relating to metformin. Following RMTC’s Board of Director’s approval, any conclusions drawn, and guidance produced regarding the SAC’s review will be shared with HISA’s ADMC Committee. Once the RMTC Scientific Advisory Committee completes its work, which we expect will take a few months, the ADMC Committee and the HISA Board will determine whether any policy changes regarding metformin should be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission for approval. 
In this interim period, metformin remains on the Prohibited Substances List and, as such, regardless of the source and/or the existence of any mitigating circumstances, any ADMC Program violation resulting from an Adverse Analytical Finding for metformin will result in the automatic disqualification of race results of the relevant Covered Horse. The deferral of Provisional Suspensions is only applicable to the Responsible Person; Covered Horses that test positive for metformin are still subject to a Provisional Suspension.  
HISA is grateful for the feedback from all industry constituents, especially the Horsemen’s Advisory Group, as we continue to refine our regulatory program to make horse racing safer and fairer for all.

HISA Announcement Regarding Metformin

Background:  Current ADMC rules include a rule adopted from the World Anti-Doping Code requiring that any Responsible Person (i.e., trainer) whose Covered Horse tests positive for a Banned (doping) Substance be Provisionally Suspended while his/her case is being processed.  A Provisional Suspension does not in any way change the presumption of innocence and is not an early determination of guilt.  Instead, it is intended as a precaution to safeguard the integrity of the sport, horse welfare, and the rights of rule-abiding trainers.  Provisional Suspensions have been instrumental in protecting the integrity of other sports and were introduced into horseracing for that reason.
Discussion: Last Friday, HIWU was informed that a split (B) sample did not confirm the original   Laboratory finding, and, accordingly, pursuant to the ADMC regulations, HIWU dismissed the violation against a trainer who had been Provisionally Suspended 20 days earlier.  This raised concerns regarding the imposition of Provisional Suspensions at this early stage of the ADMC Program’s rollout. Consequently, HISA’s ADMC Committee, which has oversight of the HISA ADMC rules, held a meeting and decided to make various policy decisions regarding the imposition of Provisional Suspensions under the ADMC Program.  Various proposals received from horsemen’s groups were considered during the course of these discussions.
Policy Change:  The following policy changes will be effective immediately and shall apply
to any Responsible Person Provisionally Suspended following a positive test for a Banned
Substance:
<ol>
<li>Any Responsible Person who requests that the B Sample be analyzed following a positive test for a Banned Substance shall be eligible for postponement of the effective date of the Provisional Suspension until such time as the B Sample result is returned. If the B Sample confirms the A Sample, the Responsible Person shall be Provisionally Suspended upon Notification of the B Sample confirmation, except that the Responsible Person shall not be required to scratch any Covered Horses entered to race prior to Notification of the B Sample confirmation. However, the Responsible Person shall not be entitled to enter any Covered Horses to race subsequent to Notification;</li>
<li>Any Responsible Person who does not request the B Sample analysis shall be Provisionally Suspended upon such election, except he/she shall not be required to scratch any Covered Horses entered to race prior to Notification of the A Sample positive finding. However, the Responsible Person shall not be entitled to enter any Covered Horses to race subsequent to Notification;</li>
<li>Any Responsible Person with more than one horse that tests positive for the same Banned Substance within a six (6) month-period or who has received notice of another potential violation relating to a Banned Substance (e.g., possession, use) shall not be eligible for delayed imposition of a Provisional Suspension as set forth in paragraph 1 above;</li>
<li>Covered/Responsible Persons will continue to be Provisionally Suspended upon the notice of the A Sample result if the result involves the detection of the following Banned Substances:</li>
</ol>
3,4- methylenedioxypyprovalerone                                Methylphenidate;
  (MDPV, Bath Salts);                                                            Mitragynine;
Alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone                                     Myo-inositol trispyrophosphate (ITPP);
  (Alpha PVP);                                                                          Nikethamide;
Amphetamines (e.g., Methamphetamine,                    Opioids (natural and synthetic) and
  Cathinone, Mephentermine, Methcathinone);           opioid agonists (e.g., apomorphine,
Benzylpiperazine (BZP);                                                         hydrocodone, hydromorphone,
Chlorpromazine;                                                                      oxycodone);
Erythropoietin (EPO) and EPO mimetics;                       Pentylenetetrazol;
Ethylphenidate;                                                                     Phencyclidine (PCP);
Etorphine;                                                                                Phendimetrazine;
Fentanyl and Fentanyl analogs;                                        Phenmetrazine;
Mazindol;                                                                                 Strychnine;
Meldonium;                                                                            Synthetic cannabinoids;
Metaraminol;                                                                         Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); and
Methaqualone;                                                                      Venoms and toxins (e.g., alpha
Methylhexanamine;                                                               cobratoxin, ziconotide, botulinum
                                                                                                       toxin)
<ol start="5">
<li>During a Provisional Suspension, which is not a Final Suspension, Covered/Responsible Persons may engage in caring for and exercising their Covered Horses, except they cannot breeze or race Covered Horses registered to them. Should they want any Covered Horses to breeze or race, they must transfer those horses to another Responsible Person (i.e., trainer) in a bona fide transfer approved by the stewards. If the Responsible/Covered Person is an Owner, ownership of the Covered Horse must be transferred in order for it to be eligible to breeze or race.   In addition, Covered/Responsible Persons: (i) must take down or cover any personal signage bearing their name or related to their operations where the Covered Horses are located at the racetrack; (ii) cannot claim Covered Horses or bring new Covered Horses into their barn; and (iii) cannot be employed in any capacity involving Covered Horses (including, but not limited to, acting as an agent for an Owner of Covered Horses or working as an exercise rider for Covered Horses.)</li>
</ol>
Additional Notes:
<ul>
<li>The Policy Change shall also be applied to any currently suspended Responsible Persons. HIWU will be in contact with all those currently Provisionally Suspended to explain next steps.</li>
<li>The Responsible/Covered Person must pay for the B Sample analysis within seven (7) calendar days of requesting it. In cases of financial hardship, and upon the demonstration of such hardship, the Covered Person may be entitled to a payment plan to cover the cost of B Sample analysis.</li>
<li>This new Policy will remain in effect for so long as the ADMC Committee deems appropriate. Should the ADMC Committee decide at some future date to abandon or modify it, the industry will receive at least thirty (30) days’ advance notice.</li>
</ul>
Public Reporting under the ADMC rules will continue to occur at the time of the EAD Notice of the A Sample positive test.

Announcement by HISA & HIWU Regarding Provisional Suspensions

DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THE B SAMPLE ANALYZED?
1. YES. • This means that your Provisional Suspension will not start until your B Sample result comes back. During this time, you may continue to train and race your horses without interruption. • You must pay the B Sample analysis fee ($2,000) within 7 calendar days of requesting it. (In cases of financial hardship, a payment plan may be available.) • If your B Sample result does not confirm the A Sample finding(s), the case against you is dismissed and you are refunded the $2,000 for the B Sample analysis. • If your B Sample result confirms the A, you will be allowed to race any horses entered prior to Notification of the B sample confirmation. However, in all other respects, your Provisional Suspension goes into effect when you are notified of the B sample results.
2. NO. You may race any horses entered to race prior to Notification of the positive test. However, in all other respects, your Provisional Suspension goes into effect when you either waive your right to have the B sample tested or do not notify HIWU of your decision within 5 days of being notified of the A sample result.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR PROVISIONAL SUSPENSION GOES INTO EFFECT?
You and your staff can continue looking after the horses under your care; however, these horses cannot breeze or be entered to race unless they are transferred to another Responsible Person (i.e., trainer) in a bona fide transfer approved by the stewards. If you are also an Owner, the ownership of your horse (no matter how small) must be transferred in order for the horse to be eligible to breeze or race. You are also subject to the following: (i) you must take down or cover any personal signage bearing your name or related to your operations where horses are located at the racetrack; (ii) you cannot claim horses or bring new horses into your barn; and (iii) you cannot be employed within the Thoroughbred horseracing industry in any other capacity where you come into contact with Covered Horses (including, but not limited to, acting as an agent for an Owner or working as an exercise rider.) After the imposition of the Provisional Suspension, you can request a Provisional Suspension hearing (limited to the issue of whether to lift the suspension) or a Final Hearing to conclude your case as soon as possible.

What Are Your Options if Your Horse Tests Positive for a Banned Substance?

JULY 7, 2023 – Covered Horses found to have had an intra-articular injection within seven days of a timed and reported workout are currently ineligible to race or breeze for 30 days from the date of injection(s) in order to protect the horse’s health. However, they are still able to jog and gallop in this timeframe. A list of Covered Horses to whom this applies, current through July 3, is now posted to <a href="https://assets.hiwu.org/a/ch-provisionally-suspended-current.v3.pdf">HIWU’s website</a> and will be updated regularly.
HISA will continue to apply its rules equally and justly to all racing participants and will continue to work to ensure racing participants are adequately informed of HISA’s rules and how to ensure compliance.
###

News

Veterinary Advisory: Reporting of Covered Horse Treatment Information for Veterinarians Practicing at Locations Other Than Covered Racetracks

Veterinary Advisory: Reporting of Covered Horse Treatment Information for Veterinarians Practicing on Covered Racetracks

HISA Announcement Regarding Provisional Suspensions

New Treatment Record Type: Mandatory Attending Veterinarian Inspection

New File Storage System in Track Details

Changes to the Can-Race Shield in the HISA Portal

Changes to HISA Portal Claiming Process

Update to HISA’s June 5th Memorandum

HISA Announcement Regarding Metformin

Announcement by HISA & HIWU Regarding Provisional Suspensions

What Are Your Options if Your Horse Tests Positive for a Banned Substance?

HISA Statement Regarding Ineligibility Due to Intra-Articular Injections

Media Resources

HISA Stewards Rulings

HIWU

Rule FAQs

Press Contact

HISA Press Releases Subscription

HISA Data Disclosure Policy