Sponsored by:
The National Horsemen s Benevolent and Protective Association, together with state affiliates in Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and West Virginia (Mountaineer) have filed a federal civil suit in an attempt to put the brakes on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, names the Federal Trade Commission and several of its employees, as well as the people tasked with forming the Nominating Committee for the new federal authority.
The suit seeks to have HISA and a number of its elements declared unconstitutional, to enjoin defendants from taking any action to implement HISA, as well as nominal damages of $1 and compensatory damages of any fees charged to horsemen by the new authority.
Longtime Racing Executive Nat Wess, 81, Succumbs In Minnesota Sponsored by:
Nat Wess, one of the premier publicists in horse racing in the 1970s and 80s when he served as director of publicity at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., died on Thursday in Minnesota. He was 81.
Wess had been hospitalized since Dec. 31 after suffering a hip fracture and requiring surgery. While hospitalized, he tested positive for COVID-19, according to an email distributed to members of the Minnesota Racing Commission shared with the Paulick Report.
While he began his career as a publicist, working first at Santa Anita and then moving to cross-town rival Hollywood Park, Wess would go on to other racetrack and association management positions, including assistant general manager at Canterbury Park in Minnesota and general manager of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
Racing reform passes Senate as part of federal spending bill
Racing reform passes Senate as part of federal spending bill
December 22, 2020 5:11am
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which would bring in national drug testing as part of its oversight of Thoroughbred racing, passed in the U.S. Senate late Monday night.
The bill was attached to a larger $1.4 trillion spending bill that includes $900 billion in pandemic relief. The whole package had been negotiated for weeks by the White House and Congressional leaders. The HISA, which had already passed with bi-partisan support this fall in the House, was attached as an amendment.
Industry, Animal Welfare Groups Applaud Passage of HISA bloodhorse.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bloodhorse.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.