WASHINGTON _ The federal government would be firmly in charge of horse racing in the United States under legislation that now has the support of a majority of House of Representatives members as lawmakers and racing advocates warned Congress urgent action is needed to boost the sport's sagging image.
The sport is currently governed by a patchwork of 38 states' laws.
Under the House of Representatives measure, racehorses would be drug tested for banned substances by a new federal nonprofit, which in turn is controlled by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which drug tests professional athletes and Olympians. All drugs would also be disallowed in the 24 hours leading up to a race.
