Columbus, OH – In his Letter to the Editor, “Hold on, the ride is about to begin,” in Thursday’s (Nov. 18) Thoroughbred Daily News, Association of Racing Commissioners International President Ed Martin warns that “decisions coming soon by the HISA (Horseracing Integrity and Integrity Authority) Board may jeopardize millions of dollars of existing public support now allocated for this function.”

ARCI President Ed Martin, photo courtesy of Thoroughbred Daily News.

Although HISA does not specifically mention Standardbreds, it is anticipated that harness racing will be covered under the Authority’s umbrella if the Act survives the challenges to its constitutionality that have been filed in federal court.

In the letter, Martin explains that, “Collectively the U.S. states invest over $100 million to regulate racing and wagering. That money comes in large part from taxes generated by the industry and fans. Commissions fight every year to ensure that adequate resources are available to do the job. Sometimes they succeed, often they don’t. The law’s authors solved this issue by giving HISA authority to self-finance by assessing new fees. The implementation challenge was how to maintain existing state investment and infrastructures to minimize new costs on a sport struggling to compete in a dramatically changing world.

“As the details of the proposed new program trickle out from the standing committees, there appears to have been little consideration as to how to maximize things already in place and paid for by the states. Those investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating violations will no longer be paid with public funds. The micromanagement of equine medical directors and regulatory veterinarians may result in shifting responsibilities and costs to racetracks or the HISA itself,” added Martin.

“And lastly, concerns about undefined but mandated testing program costs are already causing some states to consider privatization to turn it all over to HISA. Note: the states don’t fund or do this for other sports.”

Martin cited HISA Chairman Charles Scheeler who earlier warned about the increased cost to the horseracing industry.

“Perhaps HISA Chair Charles Scheeler said it best at The Jockey Club’s August Roundtable: ‘This program is going to cost money, and it’s going to cost more money than the industry has traditionally allocated for services such as these.’ Very true, except that the bulk of the money is not allocated by the industry, but rather by the states who can shift it elsewhere especially if someone else can pay.”

To read Martin’s complete letter in Thoroughbred Daily News, click here.