Dr. Doug Daniels, a Virginia horse owner and equine veterinarian, was unanimously re-elected to a second three-year term as President and Board Chair of the National HBPA.
The election and full board meeting of the National Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) on Saturday capped off the organization’s annual conference, which included three days of panel discussions and presentations at the Prairie Meadows racetrack, casino and hotel.
“There’s been more work in the last three years than I ever dreamed,” Daniels said after the meeting, referring to the NHBPA and its affiliates’ multiple legal challenges to the constitutionality of the law that created the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority (HISA). “I hope that over the next three years it will be less contentious and much more meaningful from the perspective of our horsemen who want positive change. I look forward to doing everything I can in this process.”
Daniels’ agenda item is to work toward passing the Racehorse Health and Safety Act (RHSA), introduced last September 26 by Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins. RHSA would replace HISA with a system that achieves the same goals but with full transparency, more rider input, science-based regulations, and at a much lower cost.
“The first priority is to get the RHSA up and running, and get people behind it,” Daniels said. “Get more people behind the HBPA, instead of the controversy that has been going on for the last few years. There are a lot of people behind the scenes who are very supportive of what we’re doing, but they feel like they’re being forced to play politics instead of their conscience.”
Daniels is a member of HISA’s Equine Advisory Group.
“I was one of the last members of the original group to be eliminated,” he said. “Will I be re-nominated? I don’t know. There seems to be a lack of representation for small-horse riders right now, and I think it’s getting a little more serious. All the new appointees are great people and great riders. But they don’t represent the same segment of the industry that I would represent, including the segment that can’t afford HISA.”
Daniels was also unopposed when he was elected as the first-ever HBPA National President in 2020. National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback said Daniels’ status as not only a horse owner but also a veterinarian has proven invaluable, especially in the current climate.
“During these challenging times, I cannot overstate the importance of Dr. Daniels as our National President and Board Chair, and as an equine veterinarian,” said Hamelback. “His knowledge and understanding of equine sports medicine has truly been an integral part of how the National HBPA navigates as we stand up to make our industry better, safer and fairer for everyone – both equine and human participants.
“Above all, he’s a really great guy.”
Daniels said he would be a much better president thanks to Hamelback.
“None of this would have happened without the water guy,” he said. “It’s an underappreciated job. It’s his efforts that keep the team together and cohesive.
“But what too many people don’t understand is that, even though Eric agrees with what we’re doing, he still gets the full direction from our board. However, he’s been a tremendous resource to the board and to me with his incredible passion and knowledge of the entire industry, top to bottom, and how it all relates. He truly deserves more praise and appreciation from the industry than he gets. I’m not the only one who feels this way, but I can easily say that this man is the driving force behind our efforts.”
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