US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis T. Tygart on Monday hailed the new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act as the start of a “new era” for the sport. The legislation, signed into law on Sunday night by US President Donald Trump, sets a national standard for anti-doping rules and racetrack safety regulations addressing the safety of horses and jockeys, overseen by USADA. “This passage signifies the beginning of a new era in the storied history of the horse racing industry,” Tygart said in a statement.
“The landmark legislation will establish a uniform approach to better protect horses and jockeys and to bolster the strength and fairness of the sport.”
Federal prosecutors indicted trainers and veterinarians in March for drugging horses to make them faster, and concerns by US lawmakers about horse safety have grown in recent years.
