HISA Webinar to Address Racing Participants’ Questions on ADMC Program

Kentucky horsemen are encouraged to participate in this webinar Thursday Sept. 7

A HISA press release

What: The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) will host its inaugural HISA Town Hall webinar on September 7, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. ET. This will be the first in a series of webinars designed to connect racing participants across the industry with HISA leadership. The first HISA Town Hall will seek to answer racing participants’ questions about HISA’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program (ADMC) Program as HISA and Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) leadership aim to provide clarity on the program’s rules, regulations, processes and procedures. Participants are encouraged to register now and submit their questions regarding the ADMC Program to be answered on the webinar.

When: Thursday, September 7, 202312:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT 

Who: 

  • The webinar will be hosted by HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus.
  • Speakers will include HIWU Executive Director Ben Mosier, HIWU Chief of Science Dr. Mary Scollay, HIWU General Counsel Michelle Pujals, Esq, and HIWU Chief of Operations, Kate Mittelstadt
  • Registration is open to all racing participants and media to participate

Where: The virtual webinar will take place online via Go To Webinar. Register to attend and submit questions here.

Contact: Mandy Minger, Director of Communications, [email protected]

About HISA:

When the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was signed into federal law, it charged the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) with drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. Overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HISA is implementing, for the first time, a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility. HISA is comprised of two programs: the Racetrack Safety Program, which went into effect on July 1, 2022, and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which went into effect on 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, enhances jockey safety, regulates riding crop use and implements voided claim rules, among other important measures.

The ADMC Program includes a centralized testing and results management process and applies uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across the United States. These rules and enforcement mechanisms are administered by an independent agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), established by Drug Free Sport International (DFS). HIWU oversees testing, educates stakeholders on the Program, accredits laboratories, investigates potential ADMC violations and prosecutes any such violations.

Jennie Rees is a communications and advocacy specialist in the horse industry who spent 32 years covering horse racing for The (Louisville) Courier-Journal before taking a corporate buyout. In addition to handling communications for the Kentucky HBPA, Rees is Kentucky Downs’ publicity director, manages in-season racing publicity for Ellis Park and serves as a consultant to the National HBPA. Other projects include the Preakness Stakes, Indiana Grand’s Indiana Derby Week and work for various HBPA affiliates and horsemen’s associations.