Confident that its voice will be heard on matters affecting its members, the Jockeys’ Guild has decided to stop litigation against the Integrity and Safety Authority’s oversight practices in life. horse racing for the sport’s safety initiatives.
“The Jockeys Association has made the decision to withdraw as plaintiff in the Louisiana lawsuit following a board meeting on December 9,” said Association President and CEO Terry Meyocks. know. “We have asked our attorney in the Louisiana case to effect the Association’s withdrawal from the case.”
HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus believes that the Association has come to the decision to drop the lawsuit after seeing that over the past few weeks HISA is fully committed to improving the safety of horse racing players.
“We are obviously very pleased and appreciative that the Jockeys’ Guild made this decision,” said Lazarus.
Lazarus said that while there are no specific rule changes regarding jockey safety issues at this time, HISA and the Association have engaged in discussions about some of the top concerns of riders. riders, including having two ambulances on race days, requirements that medical personnel are on site during training and racing, riding rules, rules on equestrian equipment, insurance issues and the process of returning to riding after concussion and other injuries.
“They recognize that we are committed to listening to their input on these issues,” says Lazarus. “We’ve had a good partnership over the past few weeks.”
The association joined a lawsuit led by Louisiana and West Virginia opposing HISA’s oversight of track safety rules, enforcement rules and assessment methods. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, Lafayette Division, saw Judge Terry Doughty in July issue an injunction barring HISA from advancing safety initiatives. It’s all in those two states.
In all states except Louisiana and West Virginia, HISA has been rolling out monitoring of industry safety standards since July 1, and is scheduled to begin monitoring anti-doping efforts, medication, review laboratory and trial starting January 1. The decision by the appeals court in a different federal case threatens that anti-doping/drug surveillance by 2023 despite further legal measures as well as Updated federal law to clarify HISA’s relationship with the Federal Trade Commission to address court concerns, could help HISA continue to be fully implemented into 2023.
That updated act, included in the multimedia appropriations bill, was passed by the U.S. Senate on December 22 and the House on December 23, and will now be delivered to President Joe. Biden to sign into law. The Association’s decision to drop the lawsuit is unrelated to the updated law.
Industry Leaders React to HISA Amendment Approval
Senate passes spending bill with HISA language in place
The Jockey Association, which boasts approximately 1,270 members — making it the single largest voice for active, retired and disabled Thoroughbred and Precious Horse riders in the country — initially supported the work. established HISA. Even after joining the lawsuit, the Association noted that it did not hold any malice towards HISA.
But before HISA’s safety standards took effect last July, the association’s panel voted to join the lawsuit because it argued many of its concerns remained unresolved.
“The association joined the original lawsuit, filed June 29, to bring to the attention of HISA and other industry stakeholders the fact that the voices of jockey players have been dropped. past in HISA issuing certain rules and to protect our members,” Meyocks said. “The association now feels its goals can best be achieved outside the context of litigation.”
Association co-chairman John Velazquez abstained to initially join the lawsuit because he is also a member of the HISA safety committee. He also abstained at the Association’s board meeting in December that approved the dismissal of the litigation. In a statement Friday, the Racing Hall of Fame racer noted that the Association feels like it now has a say.
“As a member of HISA’s Track Safety Committee, I want to thank Congress for reaffirming HISA as there is still a lot of work to be done to improve safety for horses and riders,” Velazquez said. “HISA has committed to working closely with the Jockey’s Guild on revising the track’s safety rules and I’m optimistic that we can make great progress working together.”
Meyocks also sees the potential to improve driver safety.
“The association has long recognized that uniform equestrian rules benefit horse riders and the industry as a whole,” said Meyocks. “The association looks forward to working with HISA and the rest of the industry to ensure that jockey’s unique position and perspective is heard and appreciated.”
On Friday, HISA welcomed Congress’s inclusion of the HISA law update in the appropriations bill and noted that it would work with industry groups to shape the rules and put them into practice.
“We are grateful to Congress for their continued, bipartisan efforts to affirm their support for HISA to enhance safety and integrity in the race,” HISA said in a statement. Thoroughbred. “We at HISA look forward to interacting with all race participants so that we can work collaboratively towards the smooth and efficient implementation of Track Safety and Drug Control Programs. and Anti-Doping.”
