Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued an opinion that reiterated a conclusion they had reached two years prior–that even though the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)'s rulemaking structure is constitutional, its enforcement provisions are not. It was nearly this time last year the United States Supreme Court punted [...]

The trendlines have been all too visible and all too visceral-nationwide declining foal crops and numbers of mares bred. Mainstays of the Thoroughbred breeding industry in the state that has produced the likes of Smarty Jones, Hard Spun and Unique Bella, however, are beginning to see tentative signs for optimism. “Our number of mares bred [...]

With a view to pulling the veil back on the hows and whys of their operations, a representative of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority or the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) will every week answer a question of industry importance posed by the TDN. If you have any questions you'd like [...]

Tom Chuckas, Tony Salerno and Jason Klouser “are no longer employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” in their positions under the state Department of Agriculture, according to a brief email from an agency spokesperson. When asked about the reasons for the terminations, the spokesperson wrote that “we do not comment on personnel matters.” Chuckas was [...]

With a view to pulling the veil back on the hows and whys of their operations, a representative of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority or the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) will every week answer a question of industry importance posed by the TDN. If you have any questions you'd like [...]

After canceling their Saturday evening card due to potential threats posed by a chemical leak at a local aerospace manufacturing plant, Los Alamitos is scheduled to race Sunday. The mixed card begins 5:45 pm. On Thursday, a large, pressurized tank filled with thousands of gallons of methyl methacrylate-a toxic, highly flammable chemical used in the [...]

The fallout from Parx Racing's decision to deny nine trainers stalls at the track for no apparent reason continued to play out in confusing fashion Tuesday when the track's racing office accepted entries for next Monday. Trainer Mary Pattershall, one of the trainers told last month they would be denied stalls at the Pennsylvania track, [...]

In light of pointed criticism aimed at the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) by an arbitrator in a recent case, the drug enforcement arm of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) has issued a horsemen's advisory on a supplement called Easywillow, along with broader recommendations for horsemen and women about their use of [...]

With a view to pulling the veil back on the hows and whys of their operations, a representative of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority or the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) will every week answer a question of industry importance posed by the TDN. If you have any questions you'd like [...]

Last month, trainer Mary Pattershall picked up her stall allocation from Parx Racing, where she said she's been stabled for decades, and got a nasty surprise. She was given zero stalls and was told she must have her “horses and property off Parx grounds” by the end of the day Thursday April 23. What's more, [...]

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)-related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU)'s “pending” and “resolved” cases portals. Among this week's rulings, trainer Vance Childers has been suspended a [...]

With a view to pulling the veil back on the hows and whys of their operations, a representative of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority will every week answer a question of industry importance posed by the TDN. If you have any questions you'd like to ask HISA, please feel free to send [...]