The Supreme Court has made a decision to uphold national medication and anti-doping regulations for horse racing, despite an ongoing legal battle that is likely to be brought before the justices for further review.
This ruling comes after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the entity responsible for administering these rules, had been granted excessive authority by Congress. However, other appellate courts have dismissed similar challenges, leading to conflicting rulings that may necessitate the intervention of the Supreme Court.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, supported by the Biden administration, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, and other stakeholders, sought an emergency order from the Supreme Court to maintain the status quo.
On the opposing side, Texas and several racetracks in Texas and Louisiana objected to the emergency appeal.
The anti-doping program, which was implemented in the spring of 2023, aims to centralize drug testing for racehorses, standardize penalties for horses and trainers, and replace the previous disparate regulations across the 38 racing states.
Lawyers representing the authority informed the court that the program has resulted in a 50% reduction in horse fatalities at participating racetracks. Conversely, they noted an increase in death rates at tracks not covered by the program.
Although there have been attempts in the House of Representatives to dismantle the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, no significant progress has been made on this front.
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