In announcing the US based Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority to the racing world Lisa Lazarus states ‘to make American racing safer and fairer, and to restore confidence in the sport.’
‘And to take the ideal of a national governing body and make it real, the rules themselves have been primarily focused on enhanced veterinary oversight of horses, and jockey health and welfare.’
‘More veterinary eyes on horses pre and post-race and significant veterinary reporting obligations so we can track treatments and medication use for the purposes of research.’
‘Mandatory jockey baseline concussion testing and annual physicals, plus the appointment of a National Medical Director for jockey health and welfare.’
‘Uniform and standardized of safety vests, helmets and riding crops, with periodic reviews of racetracks to ensure surfaces and conditions are maintained for safety of horse and rider.’
In presenting at the International Federation of Horseracing Authority, Lisa Lazarus said ‘as the very first leader of a national governing body in the United States – it’s been a long tome coming.’
‘Effective of 1 July today we have 36,324 horses and 28,606 persons registered, with everyone playing a role in upgrading safety and integrity – racetracks, trainers, owners, jockeys, veterinarians.’
In seeing meaningful improvement in equine welfare in just 3 months these Rules were implemented the HISA Board, headed by Charles Scheeler as Chairman and an Independent Director.
In addition, Steve Beshear is Vice-Chairman and from Kentucky, Adolpho Birch from Tennessee who chairs the AMCS Committee, Leonard Coleman from Florida and Ellen McClain from New York.
The four Industry Directors comprise Joseph De Francis from Maryland, Susan Stover of California and who chairs the RSS Committee, Bill Thomason of Kentucky and DG Van Clief Jr. from Virginia.
‘The crop rule was the most heavily debated and controversial of HISA’s Racetrack Safety Rules’ continued Lisa Lazarus ‘with participants having honest and difficult debates about the whip.’
‘Particularly in regard to public image and social license to operate, Americans, particularly the younger generations, don’t like seeing horses whipped and abhor the overuse of the crop.’
In having the well-regarded jockey Johnny Velasquez on the Racetrack Safety Committe he was an effective voice for jockeys when implementing the HISA Crop Rule 2280 and Sanctions.
Firstly, a rider may use the crop on the hindquarters to activate and focus the horse a maximum of six times during a race, with the six permitted in increments of two or fewer strikes, and must also allow at least two strides for the horse to respond before using the crop again.
The rider may also tap the horse on the shoulder with the crop while both hands are holding on to the reins, and both hands are touching the neck of the horse.
The rider may show or wave the crop to the horse without physically contacting the horse, and may use the crop to preserve the safety of horses and riders.
In viewing the Riding Crop Class 3 Violations of 1 to 3 strikes over the limit, its a $250 fine or 10% of Jockey’s portion of the purse, and a minimum 1-day suspension and 3 penalty points.
A Class 2 Violation of 4 to 9 strikes over the limit is $500 or 20% of Jockey’s portion of the purse, horse disqualified from purse earnings, a minimum 3-day suspension for the Jockey and 5 points.
And a Class 1 of 10 or more strikes over the limit is a $750 fine or 30% of Jockey’s purse portion, horse disqualified from purse earnings and a minimum 5-day Jockey suspension plus 10 points.
So since 1 July 1 when HISA came into effect, there have been 325 crop rule violations across America, and of those 29 were involved in purse disqualification, with 91% being the minor 4 strikes over the 6 strike limit and only 9% being more serious and leading to purse re-distribution.
