Columbus, OH — In Wednesday’s (April 29) Paulick Report, Editor-in-Chief Natalie Voss writes about a presentation made by USTA President Russell Williams on the previously announced Hanover Shoe Farms’ $250,000 matching funds grant to support integrity in racing during a Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission teleconference on Tuesday (April 28).

In the story, Voss writes that “Williams’ goal is to fund an agency similar to or including 5 Stones Intelligence, which according to The Jockey Club contributed intelligence work to the FBI investigation, eventually resulting in the indictments.”

He also stated that the funds “would ultimately be available not just for surveillance in Pennsylvania, but nationwide.”

In his interview with Voss following the conference call, Williams explained that the project is still in the planning stage.

“We’re working right now on the design of the business model,” Williams told Voss. “We have to find a structure that will protect the administration of the money from allegations of conflict-of-interest. It looks like there must be some sort of third-party oversight. Also, there will be no pulling punches: what the investigations find must be dealt with correctly and intensively in every case.”

Williams also said he hoped that the Thoroughbred industry would join the effort to raise funding.

“If all the racing breeds got together on this it would just be awesome,” Williams said.

Voss also reported that the initial reception to Williams’ announcement on the commission teleconference Tuesday was positive.

Read the complete story at the Paulick Report.