THA open letter recognizes “serious concerns” with HISA
Cost, Lasix ban among horsemen’s issues
The Biz
February 11, 2026
In an open letter to the Thoroughbred racing industry, the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Associations (THA) reaffirmed their commitment to equine safety and racing integrity while outlining ongoing efforts to reform the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) framework.
The letter strikes a measured tone, emphasizing that horsemen support “reasonable, science-based regulation” but continue to harbor serious concerns about HISA’s structure, cost, and day-to-day impact on trainers, veterinarians, and racetrack operators. Rather than challenge the law’s existence, which the THA noted will ultimately be decided by federal courts, the organization said it has chosen to engage with HISA leadership to pursue practical reforms.
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A primary focus of the letter is the financial burden of HISA and its enforcement arm, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU). Funded entirely by industry participants, the programs will have cost the Thoroughbred industry more than $168 million in new regulatory assessments by the end of 2025, according to the THA.
While welcoming HISA’s stated goal of reducing assessments by 50% by 2030 and eliminating them entirely by 2035, the THA called for accelerated cost reductions. “No racetrack should have to reduce days, purses or close entirely because of the financial burden of HISA and HIWU,” the organization wrote.
Anti-Doping Program Revisions
The letter details ongoing discussions with HISA to address what the THA described as “fundamental flaws” in the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. Concerns include due process protections, the classification of certain substances, and penalties viewed as disproportionate to violations.
A particular point of contention has been substances associated with human drug abuse that may enter a horse’s system through environmental contamination. The THA said it pushed for separate classification of such substances and elimination of automatic Provisional Suspensions except in egregious cases posing immediate risks.
According to the letter, HISA agreed to recommend several rule modifications to the Federal Trade Commission, including:
- Eliminating Provisional Suspensions in most Banned Substances cases.
- Capping penalties in contamination cases involving human substance abuse drugs at 60 days when contamination is more likely than not.
- Revising evalution standards in such cases.
- Reducing suspensions of horses and allowing owners hearings in potential horse suspension cases.
- Reclassifying certain previously banned substances.
- Establishing a science-based screening limit for Metformin.
- Creating a “case circumstances” provision granting HIWU discretion to tailor sanctions based on objective standards.
The THA said these changes are intended to ensure sanctions deter misconduct without “destroying careers.”
Lasix and 2026 Decisions Loom
Looking ahead, the THA called 2026 a “pivotal year,” noting that the three-year state exemptions from the Lasix ban granted in 2023 expire in May. The HISA Board must soon determine whether to continue or modify that policy — a decision the THA said could have “a massive impact” on horsemen, horses, and racetracks. The organization pledged full engagement on behalf of its members.
Veterinarians and trainers have also voiced concerns that certain HISA rules limit individualized care. The THA said it will continue advocating for reforms that protect horse welfare while recognizing HISA’s regulatory mission.
Engagement Over Confrontation
Responding to critics who argue for a more adversarial approach, the THA defended its strategy of sustained engagement with HISA. Meaningful reform, the letter states, requires persistence, credibility, and continuous advocacy.
“Our objective has never been to defend the status quo,” the organization wrote, “but to push for reforms that make the system fairer, more practical, and more effective—while protecting both our horses and the people who care for them.”
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