Press Releases

May 20, 2026: Racetrack Safety Committee Meeting Minutes

June 18, 2026 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is pleased to announce the additions of Drs. Kevin Dunlavy, Vickie Heidlage-Williams, Jamie McAnly, Clayton McCook and Gabrielle Rivest to HISA’s Veterinary Advisory Committee (VAC). Established in 2024, the committee is composed of both regulatory and private racetrack veterinarians across the nation. Advisory committee members provide feedback to HISA’s executive team and standing committees on the execution and development of HISA’s policies and protocols surrounding veterinary care, racetrack safety, medication, equine research and other related issues. Members are appointed for 18-month terms, and the new members succeed outgoing VAC members Drs. Nolton Pattio, Martha Misheff, Amy Narotsky and Horace “Sam” Ferguson, III.
“We look forward to the meaningful contributions our new members will make and are confident their clinical expertise and wide range of experiences will further strengthen the committee&#8217;s efforts to provide informed guidance to the industry,” said Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, HISA Director of Policy &amp; Industry Initiatives.
More information about the new members can be found below:
<ul>
<li> Kevin Dunlavy is a 1991 graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is a founding partner of Kentucky Equine Medical Associates based in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Dunlavy has also been an active member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, serving on the Professional Conduct and Ethics Committee and Racing Committee and as a spokesperson for the On Call Program.</li>
<li> Vickie Heidlage-Williams graduated from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and became a Regulatory Veterinarian in March 2018 in her hometown’s Will Rogers Downs. She initially worked for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, performing pre-race exams, which expanded into working at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a commission veterinarian and as a track veterinarian for Fair Meadows and Will Rogers Downs. In 2021, she accepted a track/association veterinarian position at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and works at all three tracks today. Dr. Heidlage-Williams has also spent time during her career as an assistant owner/trainer of Thoroughbreds with her husband.</li>
<li> Jamie McAnly is a 2005 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she completed a hospital internship at Equine Services in Simpsonville, Kentucky, where she remained for two additional years as an associate. In 2008, she joined a private racetrack practice, spending winters at Palm Meadows Training Center and summers at Monmouth Park and Saratoga Race Course. In 2023, she transitioned into her current position as a Regulatory Veterinarian at Tampa Bay Downs. Since becoming a Regulatory Veterinarian, Dr. McAnly has traveled to Virginia during the summers to serve at the Colonial Downs meet.</li>
<li> Clayton McCook graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas Christian University and a Master of Science in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut. Additionally, he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&amp;M University in 2009. Subsequently, Dr. McCook completed a racetrack internship with Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery (ESMS), headquartered in Weatherford, Texas. Dr. McCook stayed on as an associate with ESMS and worked for the New Mexico racetrack circuit for a year before transferring to the ESMS Oklahoma division in 2011.</li>
<li> Gabrielle Rivest completed her veterinary degree at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed an internship at Colts Neck Equine Associates, before becoming an associate veterinarian working with standardbred racehorses and show horses in New Jersey. Dr. Rivest then joined the Maryland Jockey Club, where she ultimately became the senior association veterinarian. As a child, she became interested in the Thoroughbred racing industry, working as a hotwalker and exercise rider and retraining off-track Thoroughbreds after their racing careers.</li>
</ul>
The full list of Veterinary Advisory Committee members can be viewed <a href="https://hisaus.org/about-us?cat=veterinary-advisory-committee">here</a>.

HISA Welcomes New Members to the Veterinary Advisory Committee

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May 2025 Newsletter

May 20, 2025 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) today announced the publication of its <a href="https://hisaus.org/news/2025-q1-metrics-report">2025 First Quarter Metrics Report</a>. This report provides a detailed analysis of key performance indicators related to the safety and integrity of Thoroughbred racing in the United States.
Racing-Related Fatalities
During the first quarter of 2025 (January 1–March 31), racetracks operating under HISA’s rules reported 0.85 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts, roughly consistent with the 0.84 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts reported during the same period last year and representing a 37% decrease as compared to 1.35 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts in the first quarter of 2023, the first year HISA collected such data. This also is 5.6% lower than the aggregate racing-related fatality rate of 0.90 per 1,000 starts for the 2024 period.
For the first time, in furtherance of its commitment to providing deeper insights into the causes of equine fatalities, HISA is publishing data on fatalities’ subclassifications: musculoskeletal injury, sudden death and other causes (i.e., traumatic injury not related to musculoskeletal injury). Of note, 94% percent of the racing-related fatalities recorded this quarter were attributable to musculoskeletal causes, 3% to sudden death and 3% to other causes. As HISA continues to expand its use of veterinary treatment records to identify injury risk patterns, it has begun issuing advisories based on those insights. HISA recently released its first-ever <a href="https://hisaus.org/news/hisa-issues-equine-health-advisory-on-risk-factors-for-fatal-proximal-forelimb-fractures">equine health advisory</a> focused on risk factors for fatal proximal forelimb fractures, using data drawn from the HISA Portal.
Training-Related Fatalities
During the first quarter of 2025, racetracks reported 0.73 training-related fatalities per 1,000 workouts. Of the training-related fatalities recorded this quarter, 76% were attributed to musculoskeletal causes, 20% to sudden death and 4% to other causes.
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made as an industry and of the hard work being done every day to make Thoroughbred racing safer—but we also recognize that the work is far from finished, especially in training environments,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “We must continue pushing forward with the same sense of urgency and commitment when it comes to workouts, as well as races. Our responsibility to protect the welfare of horses and riders must be upheld every day, in every barn and on every track.”
HISA also determined that 23,167 unique Covered Horses either recorded a published workout or made a start in a Covered Race in the first quarter of 2025, meaning that the total racing- and training-related fatality rate for the Covered Horse population was 0.35%.
The full report can be accessed <a href="https://hisaus.org/news/2025-q1-metrics-report">here</a>. The Horseracing Integrity &amp; Welfare Unit will also release a separate quarterly report detailing metrics from the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.

HISA Publishes 2025 First Quarter Metrics Report

April 21, 2025 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) today announced the release of a new Equine Health Advisory identifying key risk factors associated with fatal proximal forelimb fractures in Thoroughbreds. The advisory, which is based on data drawn from the HISA Portal, provides practical guidance for trainers and veterinarians on how to help prevent these catastrophic injuries.
The advisory’s key findings include:
<ul>
<li>Fatal proximal forelimb (humeral and scapular) fractures accounted for 15% of training fatalities reported to HISA by Regulatory Veterinarians in 2024.</li>
<li>More than 40% of horses that experienced fatal proximal forelimb fractures that were reported to HISA had no recorded high-speed furlongs within the 60 days prior to the fracture occurring.</li>
<li>On average, horses with these fractures logged only 12.3 high-speed furlongs in the 60 days prior to injury.</li>
<li>Horses with humeral fractures averaged only 5.9 high-speed furlongs in that same timeframe.</li>
</ul>
These findings suggest that horses in early stages of training or those returning from an extended layoff may be at higher risk for fatal proximal forelimb fractures than previously recognized.
This marks the first time HISA is publicly sharing insights from its Portal, making these findings available to the broader industry to support better-informed care, promote best practices and reduce the risk of equine injury and fatality. As HISA continues to collect and analyze exercise history data from across the country, it will issue additional advisories on other injury risk patterns. This effort reflects HISA’s broader mission to proactively identify risk factors and help industry participants make racing safer for both horses and riders.
“It is HISA’s goal to substantially reduce the number of these fatalities beginning in 2025. Building awareness is the first step. This advisory reflects our commitment to data-driven safety and highlights the collective responsibility we have as an industry to intercede for at-risk horses before injuries occur,” said Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, HISA Director of Equine Safety and Welfare. “Our goal is to translate this growing body of information in our Portal into actionable guidance that can make our sport safer.”
The full advisory is available <a href="https://hisaus.org/resources/hisa-equine-health-advisory-risk-factors-and-prevention-of-proximal-forelimb-shoulder-fractures-in-thoroughbreds">here</a>. It has been distributed to all trainers and veterinarians registered in the HISA Portal and is also available on www.hisaus.org under the Resources section.
<hr />
21 de abril de 2025 (Lexington, KY) — La Autoridad de Integridad y Seguridad de Carreras de Caballos anunció hoy el lanzamiento de nuevas recomendaciones de salud equina, en las que se identifican los principales factores de riesgo asociados a fracturas fatales en la parte superior de las extremidades anteriores de caballos Sangre Pura de Carrera. Las recomendaciones, basadas en datos recopilados a través del portal de HISA, ofrecen una guía práctica destinada a entrenadores y veterinarios para ayudar a prevenir este tipo de lesiones catastróficas.
Entre los principales hallazgos del informe se hallan los siguientes:
<ul>
<li>Las fracturas en la porción proximal de las extremidades anteriores (húmero y escápula) representaron el 15 % de las muertes ocurridas durante entrenamientos, según los reportes de los veterinarios reguladores de HISA en 2024.</li>
<li>Más del 40 % de los caballos que sufrieron fracturas fatales en la porción proximal de las extremidades anteriores, según los reportes enviados a HISA, no tenían registros de entrenamientos a alta velocidad en los 60 días previos a la lesión.</li>
<li>En los 60 días previos a la lesión, los caballos que presentaron este tipo de fracturas habían realizado, en promedio, solo 12,3 furlongs (unos 2500 metros) de entrenamiento a alta velocidad.</li>
<li>Los caballos con fractura de húmero promediaron solo 5,9 furlongs (unos 1200 m) a alta velocidad en el mismo periodo de tiempo.</li>
</ul>
Estos hallazgos sugieren que los caballos en las etapas tempranas de entrenamiento o aquellos que regresan tras un período prolongado de inactividad pueden tener un mayor riesgo de sufrir fracturas fatales en la fracción proximal de las extremidades anteriores de lo que se reconocía anteriormente.
Esta es la primera vez que HISA comparte públicamente información extraída de su Portal, poniendo a disposición de toda la industria hallazgos valiosos que respaldan un cuidado equino más informado, promueven las mejores prácticas y ayudan a reducir el riesgo de lesiones y fatalidades en los caballos. En la medida que HISA continúe recopilando y analizando datos sobre el historial de entrenamientos en todo el país, emitirá nuevas recomendaciones sobre patrones emergentes de riesgo de lesiones. Este esfuerzo se enmarca en la misión general de HISA de identificar proactivamente factores de riesgo y asistir a los participantes de la industria en la implementación de medidas que incrementen la seguridad en las competencias, tanto para los caballos como para los jinetes.
&#8220;El objetivo de HISA es reducir sustancialmente el número de estas fatalidades a partir de 2025. Crear conciencia es el primer paso. Este comunicado refleja nuestro compromiso con la seguridad basada en datos y resalta la responsabilidad colectiva que tenemos como industria de intervenir en favor de los caballos en riesgo antes de que ocurran lesiones&#8221;, afirmó la Dra. Jennifer Durenberger, directora de Seguridad y Bienestar Equino de HISA. &#8220;Nuestra meta es traducir este creciente cuerpo de información disponible en nuestro Portal en guías prácticas que contribuyan a hacer nuestro deporte más seguro.&#8221;
La recomendación completa está <a href="https://hisaus.org/resources/hisa-equine-health-advisory-risk-factors-and-prevention-of-proximal-forelimb-shoulder-fractures-in-thoroughbreds">aquí</a>. Ha sido distribuida a todos los entrenadores y veterinarios registrados en el portal HISA y también se encuentra disponible en <a href="http://www.hisaus.org">www.hisaus.org</a> dentro de la sección Recursos.

HISA Issues Equine Health Advisory on Risk Factors for Fatal Proximal Forelimb Fractures

March 17, 2025 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) today announced the release of its <a href="https://hisaus.org/news/2024-annual-metrics-report">2024 Annual Metrics Report</a>, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability in Thoroughbred racing. The report presents key data collected in 2024 as part of HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program. Information related to HISA’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program will be released later this month by HISA’s independent anti-doping administrator, the Horseracing Integrity &amp; Welfare Unit.
In 2024, HISA continued to advance safety and welfare measures for Thoroughbred horses and riders. As <a href="https://hisaus.org/news/racing-related-fatality-rate-at-hisa-racetracks-hits-historic-low-in-2024">previously announced</a>, the 47 racetracks operating under HISA’s ADMC Program and Racetrack Safety Program recorded an aggregate racing-related fatality rate of 0.90 per 1,000 starts. The Jockey Club <a href="https://www.jockeyclub.com/Default.asp?section=Resources&amp;area=10&amp;story=1511">subsequently published</a> the 2024 data from its Equine Injury Database (EID), announcing a North American racing-related fatality rate of 1.11 per 1,000 starts. Significantly, the 2024 EID shows that racetracks in the United States that are not subject to HISA’s rules have a fatality rate of 1.76 per 1,000 starts, which is almost double the 0.90 per 1,000 starts at HISA racetracks.
“HISA has made significant progress in advancing its mandate across racetrack safety, technological innovation, uniform medication control and equine welfare,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “HISA pursued these initiatives with input and support from the many racing stakeholders who are the backbone of the sport, and their collective efforts have led to meaningful improvements in our safety metrics. We look forward to continuing to work with the industry to make further inroads.”
The rate of 0.90 is a 35% decrease from the rate of 1.39 reported by the EID in 2021—the last full year prior to the launch of HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program—and a 27% decrease from the rate of 1.23 that HISA reported last year. It also represents a 55% decline since 2009, when the EID first began reporting such fatalities, at a rate of 2.00.
The 2024 report marks the first time in Thoroughbred racing history that nationwide data on training-related fatalities has been published in the U.S. (and, to HISA’s knowledge, internationally). By implementing standardized tracking and reporting for training-related fatalities and sharing such data on a by-state and by-racetrack basis, HISA is providing unprecedented transparency and knowledge-sharing among industry stakeholders. In 2024, racetracks operating under HISA’s rules (and the training facilities owned by them) reported 181 training-related deaths, equating to 0.50 deaths per 1,000 workouts (i.e., the official timed works of racehorses preparing for an official start). This is a conservative ratio, as HISA’s training-related data includes fatalities that occur during all training activities, not just workouts.
While it is too early to establish trends in combined racing- and training-related fatality data, transparency is a critical first step in identifying risk factors and developing targeted safety initiatives. The information collected on training-related fatalities has served to expand the already significant database HISA has built and will be instructive as the organization moves into the next phase of its data-driven efforts—identifying patterns to help racing stakeholders make more informed decisions for their horses and proposing guidance and rules designed to make training safer.
The full report can be accessed here: <a href="https://hisaus.org/news/2024-annual-metrics-report">2024 Annual Metrics Report &#8211; Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority</a>.

HISA Releases 2024 Annual Metrics Report

March 14, 2025 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is pleased to announce the reappointment of Jeff Novitzky, Senior Vice President, Anti-Doping Compliance for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), to its Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Committee.
Novitzky is an American sports executive and former federal investigator known for his extensive contributions to anti-doping enforcement. In his current role, he leads the UFC’s drug-testing and anti-doping initiatives. Prior to joining the UFC in April 2015, Novitzky was a federal agent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, where he led investigations into companies suspected of illegally distributing performance-enhancing substances, including the Lance Armstrong/U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team case. Before that, he conducted Internal Revenue Service investigations into some of the highest-profile anti-doping cases in professional sports history, including those involving the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative and Barry Bonds. His efforts have significantly influenced drug-testing policies in professional sports.
“Jeff’s extensive expertise will be a tremendous asset to the ADMC Standing Committee,” said Charles Scheeler, Chair of the ADMC Standing Committee and the HISA Board of Directors. “His leadership in anti-doping enforcement and commitment to the principles of fair competition will further strengthen our mandate to promote transparency, safety and integrity in horse racing.”
The ADMC Standing Committee is composed of four independent members and three industry representatives. The committee plays a key role in advising and assisting HISA with the development of comprehensive rules and protocols for its ADMC Program, including the Prohibited Substances List, laboratory testing standards, in-competition and out-of-competition testing programs and ADMC research and educational initiatives. The daily operations of the ADMC Program are managed by the Horseracing Integrity &amp; Welfare Unit, a subsidiary of Drug Free Sport International, which works to ensure horse racing is conducted in accordance with the ADMC Program and that the welfare of horses is always prioritized when it comes to the implementation of medication rules.
As HISA welcomes back Novitzky, the organization also expresses gratitude to Dr. Jerry Yon, who stepped down from the committee on December 31, 2024, after years of dedicated service.
“We deeply appreciate Dr. Yon’s invaluable contributions to the ADMC Standing Committee,” said Lisa Lazarus, CEO of HISA. “His dedication and insight have played a pivotal role in shaping the foundation of the ADMC Program, leaving a lasting legacy that will continue to strengthen the integrity and welfare of our sport.”
The full list of ADMC Standing Committee members can be viewed online <a href="https://hisaus.org/about-us?cat=admc-committee">here</a>.

HISA Welcomes Back Jeff Novitzky to ADMC Committee

February 21, 2025 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the Horseracing Integrity &amp; Welfare Unit (HIWU), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission (PSHRC), today announced that they are pursuing cases against one veterinarian and 13 trainers in connection with an organized effort to evade HISA rules designed to protect and enhance the health and safety of horses and riders.
A coordinated investigation led by the PSHRC revealed that veterinarian Dr. Allen Post Bonnell allegedly conspired with the implicated trainers from May 2023 through November 2024 to administer intra-articular injections to the joints of Covered Horses within the prohibited stand-down periods, in direct violation of HISA’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) and Racetrack Safety Programs—whose rules are in place to safeguard equine health and ensure fair competition.
As a result of the alleged violations, HISA and HIWU will pursue sanctions against these Covered Persons as described in HISA’s rules, including the disqualification of more than 100 horses from previous race results and subsequent forfeiture of purses, periods of Ineligibility for the Covered Persons and fines. While all horses were allegedly injected at Penn National Race Course, they participated in races at 10 different racetracks subject to HISA’s rules, across six different states.
HISA has verified that of the more than 100 unique horses alleged to have breezed or raced in violation of HISA&#8217;s intra-articular stand down times, 30% never raced again, strongly suggesting these injections were used to mask pain. Approximately 10% were observed to be lame post-race by a regulatory veterinarian. Three horses were euthanized as a direct result of injuries sustained in those races.
“This egregious breach of integrity and intentional undermining of equine welfare is a stark reminder of why rigorous oversight and enforcement are critical to the future of horse racing,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “The health and safety of horses and jockeys are paramount, and those who deliberately put them at risk will be held accountable.”
From the inception of the ADMC Program on May 22, 2023 through July 7, 2024, HIWU enforced intra-articular injection rule violations. As of July 8, 2024, HISA has been enforcing intra-articular injection protocols under its revised Racetrack Safety Program.
Further details, including disciplinary actions and sanctions against those involved, will be released in accordance with the disclosure requirements under the Racetrack Safety Program and ADMC Program. HISA, HIWU and the PSHRC remain steadfast in their commitment to protecting the integrity of the sport and the welfare of its equine and human athletes.

HISA, HIWU Pursue Cases Against Veterinarian and 13 Trainers in Widespread Conspiracy

February 20, 2025 (Lexington, KY) &#8211; For the first time in the United States since data has been recorded, the racing-related fatality rate at racetracks subject to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) rules fell below 1.00 per 1,000 starts for a calendar year. In 2024, 99.91% of starts did not result in a fatality. From January 1 through December 31, 2024, 47 racetracks across 19 states operating under HISA’s rules recorded an aggregate racing-related fatality rate of 0.90 per 1,000 starts, an approximate 27% decrease from the 1.23 rate reported by HISA in 2023 and a 55% decrease from when The Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database began reporting fatalities in 2009 at a rate of 2.00.
“It has never been clearer that Thoroughbred racing has become safer under HISA,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “While we celebrate this progress, HISA remains committed to collaborating with industry stakeholders to further reduce fatalities and to enhance safety for horses, jockeys and all those who love and participate in the sport.”
HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program, implemented on July 1, 2022, and its Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program, implemented on May 22, 2023, have significantly strengthened safety measures nationwide by implementing uniform rules that embody best-practice standards. Key requirements include expanded veterinary protocols, pre-race inspections, laboratory harmonization, racetrack surface monitoring and uniform medication oversight. HISA also has rolled out new technologies in the last year to assist stakeholders with making informed decisions about equine athletes, including <a href="https://hisaus.org/news/hisa-introduces-hisa-horse-in-sight">HISA Horse In-Sight</a>, an innovative platform that combines a horse’s career and medical history to provide a unique and holistic view of its health and performance.
In March, HISA will release its 2024 Annual Report, which will detail racing-related fatalities over time by state and racetrack. Additionally, for the first time, the 2024 Annual Report will include full-year training-related fatality data on an aggregate, per-state and per-track basis. By implementing standardized tracking and reporting for training-related fatalities, HISA is providing unprecedented transparency and insight as part of ongoing efforts to prevent training- and racing-related fatalities across the country. This expanded dataset will enable a more comprehensive understanding of risk factors and inform targeted safety measures in both training and racing.

Racing-Related Fatality Rate at HISA Racetracks Hits Historic Low in 2024

February 3, 2025 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is pleased to announce the addition of Thoroughbred horsemen Michael Annechino, Neil Howard, Todd Mostoller and Justin Revak to its Horsemen’s Advisory Group. Formed in 2022, this body of racing industry participants provides HISA’s executive team and Standing Committees with formal feedback on the evolution of its Racetrack Safety Program and Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. Its new members succeed outgoing Horsemen’s Advisory Group members Timothy Keefe, Maggi Moss, Graham Motion and Kirk Wycoff.
The Horsemen’s Advisory Group has 18 members with a wide variety of viewpoints from across the racing industry. Its membership includes trainers, owners, bloodstock agents, horsemen’s group representatives and veterinarians.
“We are grateful to Timothy Keefe, Maggi Moss, Graham Motion and Kirk Wycoff for their invaluable contributions to HISA’s mission,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “Their unwavering dedication and keen insights have played a critical role in advancing HISA’s rules, driving meaningful progress for the industry. We are excited to welcome our new members and look forward to learning from their extensive experience as we continue to build a safer and more unified framework for Thoroughbred racing.”
The full list of the Horsemen’s Advisory Group members can be found <a title="https://horseracingintegrityandsafetyauthorityhisa.cmail20.com/t/r-l-thskihk-niietkijk-y/" href="https://horseracingintegrityandsafetyauthorityhisa.cmail20.com/t/r-l-thskihk-niietkijk-y/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">here</a>, with more information about each of the new members also available below.
Michael Annechino is an Ohio-based owner who has been involved in Thoroughbred racing since 1980. Annechino has raced across the country, having held licenses in more than 20 states, and Canada. Specializing in the claiming game, he has campaigned more than 750 horses over the past four decades. Among his wins are 17 stakes victories. Originally from New York, he was the Executive Director/Board Member of the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association from 2020-2024.
Neil Howard is a Kentucky-based, lifelong horseman who retired from over two decades of service as Gainesway Farm’s general manager in 2019. He currently serves as a management consultant for various clients. He is a former commissioner of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and has served in a number of capacities for the thoroughbred industries&#8217; professional organizations.
Todd Mostoller is a Pennsylvania resident, currently serving as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. Mostoller was instrumental in the crafting of Pennsylvania’s Racehorse Development and Gaming Act, as well as the creation of New Start, a second career placement organization for retired racehorses. He is also an owner, campaigning horses under Commonwealth New Era Racing, LLC.
Justin Revak is a Minnesota-based owner and managing partner of the ownership group Rocket Wrench Racing LLC. He also serves as President of the Minnesota Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and President of the Canterbury Chaplaincy Backside Foundation.

HISA Welcomes New Members to Horsemen’s Advisory Group

December 19, 2024 (Lexington, KY) – The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) today announced the members of its Veterinary Advisory Committee. The committee will commence regular meetings in early 2025 to provide feedback to HISA’s executive team and standing committees on the implementation and evolution of HISA’s rules and protocols related to veterinary care, medication, racetrack safety, equine research and other relevant issues.
Following the announcement of the Veterinary Advisory Committee’s formation on September 30, HISA has appointed 16 regulatory and private practice veterinarians from across the country. Committee members will serve staggered terms of 18 to 30 months to ensure a dynamic, evolving group and maximize opportunities for future participation.
“I would like to express my gratitude to each of the highly qualified veterinarians who have generously agreed to contribute their time and expertise to the advancement of our sport,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “Their collective knowledge of and commitment to matters relating to equine health and welfare will be instrumental in guiding our efforts to foster a safer and more sustainable future for horse racing.”
“I am honored to welcome to the committee such a talented and dedicated group of veterinarians,” added Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, HISA Director of Equine Safety and Welfare, who will be chairing the committee. “Both clinical and regulatory veterinary knowledge and experience are essential to HISA’s mission of enhancing safety and integrity in the sport. We look forward to collaborating with our new committee members to advance horse welfare and drive scientific progress.”
Members of HISA’s Veterinary Advisory Committee are:
<ul>
<li>Dr. Kathleen Anderson</li>
<li>Dr. Ada Caruthers</li>
<li>Dr. Ashley Daniel</li>
<li>Dr. Horace (“Sam”) O. Ferguson</li>
<li>Dr. Peter Hannigan</li>
<li>Dr. Andrew Hirschy</li>
<li>Dr. Kathleen Kivi</li>
<li>Dr. Michael Manno</li>
<li>Dr. Justin McCormick</li>
<li>Dr. Martha Misheff</li>
<li>Dr. Amy Narotsky</li>
<li>Dr. Nolton Pattio</li>
<li>Dr. Kathy Picciano</li>
<li>Dr. Lindsey Porubovich</li>
<li>Dr. Lisa Santa-Emma</li>
<li>Dr. Nick Smith</li>
</ul>
To read the full biography for each member, please visit the Veterinary Advisory Committee page on HISA’s website, located <a href="https://hisaus.org/about-us?cat=veterinary-advisory-committee#our-team">here</a>.

HISA Announces Membership of Veterinary Advisory Committee

December 17, 2024 (Lexington, KY) &#8211; The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) today announced the publication of its 2024 Third Quarter Metrics Report. This report provides a detailed analysis of key performance indicators related to the safety and integrity of Thoroughbred racing in the United States.
The third quarter of 2024 (July 1 – September 30) marked the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year declines in the racing-related equine fatality rate since the launch of HISA’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which began on May 22, 2023. The Q3 fatality rate decreased approximately 21% year-over-year, with racetracks operating under HISA’s rules reporting 0.93 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts as compared to a rate of 1.18 in the third quarter of 2023.
“The consistent year-over-year declines in the racing-related equine fatality rate are a testament to the dedication and collaboration of all stakeholders in our industry,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “As safety and integrity continue to improve, we’re reminded that our mission to protect the well-being of horses and riders will preserve the sport for generations to come. There’s still more to achieve, but the progress so far is inspiring.”
Third Quarter 2024 Highlights
Racing-Related Equine Fatalities
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<li>Racetracks under HISA&#8217;s jurisdiction reported 0.93 racing-related fatalities per 1,000 starts in Q3 2024, approximately a 21% decrease as compared to the same period in 2023.</li>
<li>The aggregate year-to-date fatality rate for HISA racetracks (January 1 to September 30, 2024) was 0.85 per 1,000 starts, approximately a 36% decrease as compared to the same period in 2023.</li>
<li>HISA submitted public disclosure requests for racing-related fatalities in Louisiana, Texas and West Virginia and received responses after releasing its own second-quarter results.
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<li>During the second quarter of 2024, fatalities at racetracks in these non-HISA states amounted to 2.38 racing-related fatalities per 1,000 starts, more than triple the fatality rate at racetracks operating under HISA’s rules during the same period, which was 0.76 racing-related fatalities per 1,000 starts.</li>
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Racing Participant Registration
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<li>Registrations through the HISA Portal reached approximately 35,500 Covered Persons across the categories below and 75,000 Covered Horses as of September 30, 2024.</li>
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<a href="https://hisaus.org/news/hisa-publishes-2024-third-quarter-metrics-report/2024-q3-covered-persons/" rel="attachment wp-att-5050"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-5050 aligncenter" src="https://hisadev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-Q3-Covered-Persons-300x285.png" alt="" width="300" height="285" srcset="https://hisadev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-Q3-Covered-Persons-300x285.png 300w, https://hisadev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-Q3-Covered-Persons-1024x973.png 1024w, https://hisadev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-Q3-Covered-Persons-768x730.png 768w, https://hisadev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-Q3-Covered-Persons-1536x1460.png 1536w, https://hisadev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-Q3-Covered-Persons-2048x1947.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a>
Racetrack Accreditation
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<li>HISA completed six accreditation visits in Q3 2024, bringing the total number of accreditation visits to 37 as of September 30, 2024. In Q3, HISA visited Downs at Albuquerque in New Mexico, Colonial Downs in Virginia, Ellis Park in Kentucky, Fresno California Racing Fair in California, Horseshoe Indianapolis in Indiana and Monmouth Park in New Jersey.</li>
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Veterinary Treatment Records
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<li>An average of 7,500 veterinary treatment records were uploaded daily during Q3 2024, bringing the total to 4 million records since the Racetrack Safety Program’s inception on July 1, 2022.</li>
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As the industry continues to collaborate to address challenges, HISA remains steadfast in its goal of creating a safer racing ecosystem. To view the full Q3 Metrics Report, click <a title="https://hisaus.org/news/2024-q3-metrics-report" href="https://hisaus.org/news/2024-q3-metrics-report" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">here</a>. The Horseracing Integrity &amp; Welfare Unit will separately release its Q3 report for the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program.

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