HISA adds Romans, Sadler McGaughey, Murphy to horsemen’s advisory group

An unedited HISA press release (Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation of Dale Romans with Cyclone Mischief at Churchill Downs)

December 12, 2023 (Lexington, KY) – Thoroughbred trainers Dale Romans, John Sadler, Shug McGaughey and racing and bloodstock manager Gavin Murphy have joined HISA’s Horsemen’s Advisory Group, the body of racing industry participants formed by HISA last year to provide formal feedback to HISA’s executive team and Standing Committees on the implementation and evolution of its Racetrack Safety and Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) regulations. They will replace outgoing Horsemen’s Advisory Group members Rick Gold, Rick Schosberg, Donnie Von Hemel, and the late Frank Jones. More information about each of the new members is below:Dale Romans is an Eclipse award-winning trainer from Louisville, Kentucky operating Romans Racing. Romans races in Kentucky, New York and Florida. He is a member of the Board of Directors, as well as the Vice President, of the Kentucky Horseman’s Benevolent Protection Agency. Romans also serves as a member of the Churchill Downs Racing Committee and the Gulfstream Park Racing Committee. John Sadler is a California-based trainer and former show jumper. Sadler has been training since 1978. In addition to training multiple Eclipse Champions, Sadler was previously President of the California Thoroughbred Trainers and a member of the boards of the Edwin Gregson Foundation and the Thoroughbred Owners of California. Shug McGaughey is a New York-based Hall of Fame trainer and a native of Lexington, Kentucky. Historically the private trainer for the laureled Phipps Stable, McGaughey brings over 30 years of experience as a top horseman to the Horsemen’s Advisory Group. Five of McGaughey’s trainees have been inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame. Gavin Murphy is an industry member originally from Queensland, Australia. Murphy is the head of SF Bloodstock, an internationally recognized bloodstock investment fund, with breeding and racing operations in the US, Australia, and Europe. A long-time industry stakeholder, Gavin was previously employed at Soros Fund Management, has served on the Board of Directors at Breeders’ Cup and has a significant involvement with top Australian stud farm, Newgate. The full list of the Horsemen’s Advisory Group members can be found here. The Group has 19 members with a wide variety of viewpoints from across racing. Its membership includes trainers, owners, veterinarians, backstretch employees and representatives of racing offices and aftercare initiatives. “I am grateful to Rick Gold, Rick Schosberg, Donnie Von Hemel, and the late Frank Jones for their dedication to improving HISA’s Racetrack Safety and ADMC programs,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “Their feedback has been integral to HISA’s evolution as we work to create a fair and safe playing field for the sport. We look forward to collaborating with the new horsemen joining our group and benefitting from their years of hands-on experience in the Thoroughbred industry.”