Columbus, OH – U.S Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and John Kennedy (R-LA) this week sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission and Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act (HISA) Authority, articulating concerns about the rollout and processes of HISA, which is scheduled to take effect this Friday, July 1.

Senator Chuck Grassley – photo courtesy of Senator Grassley website.

In the letter, the senators suggest that a delay in the implementation of HISA may be necessary in order to address the myriad problems and confusion that have surfaced as the Thoroughbred industry struggles to deal with the Authority’s takeover. The United States Trotting Association (USTA), which fully supports delayed implementation, expressed its related trepidations with these offices in recent months and strongly advocated for the production of the letter.

Although harness racing is not mentioned specifically within the Act, it is believed that many states will, out of financial necessity, pull Standardbred racing under the HISA umbrella. The USTA, along with many other racing groups from all racing breeds, sees HISA as an existential threat to the racing and breeding industries.

We urge every USTA member to read the letter linked here and encourage your representatives to get engaged.

To read the letter from the Senators Grassley, Manchin, Ernst and Kennedy, click here.

.