FEATURE
THE THOROUGHBRED HORSERACING INTEGRITY ACT OF 2015, ALSO KNOWN AS H.R. 3084 OR THE BARR-TONKO BILL AFTER CO-SPONSORS ANDY BARR (R-KY) AND PAUL TONKO (D-NY), HAS RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE, THOUGH NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE, COVERAGE IN THE RACING PRESS. To keep members of the National HBPA apprised of the status of this legislation, which would give the federal government the power to regulate medication standards and penalties rather than the states, the following update is being provided. National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback, along with NHBPA General Counsel Peter Ecabert, NHBPA Government Relations Liaison Brian Fitzgerald and NHBPA Eastern Region Vice President Robin Richards, traveled to Washington, D.C., to represent the organization and to provide written and oral testimony in a formal briefing of the Congressional Horse Caucus on April 28, just 10 days before the Kentucky Derby. Reps. Barr and Tonko, co-chairs of the Congressional Horse Caucus, presided over a briefing on H.R. 3084 prior to the caucus. Hamelback was the only participant that spoke in opposition to the bill, and had the NHBPA not put pressure on Rep. Barr’s office, there likely would have been no one participating in the caucus that was opposed. All of the other participants spoke in support of the legislation. These participants included Bobby Flay, professional chef and racehorse owner; Joe De Francis, former Maryland Jockey Club executive who currently serves on a racing committee of the U.S. Humane Society; Craig Fravel, president and CEO of the Breeders’ Cup; and Chauncey Morris, executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders. A dozen or so members of the Horse Caucus attended the briefing, with a few only staying for a brief time. The hearing can be viewed online at youtube.com/watch?v=Zea9_kTQIfM. The Congressional Horse Caucus is an informal organization only and has no legislative authority or jurisdiction over H.R. 3084 or any other legislation. The Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity turned to Barr and Tonko to convene this event before the caucus because the Republican leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, which have formal jurisdiction over the legislation, has shown no interest to date in convening a hearing or otherwise taking up consideration of the bill. Support for H.R. 3084, as of May 12, stands at 39 co-sponsors: 21 Republicans and 18 Democrats. Six of the co-sponsors—Reps. Tonko, Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Yvette Clark (D-NY), Susan
Brooks (R-IN) and Chris Collins (R-NY)—serve on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Of these committee members, only Brooks, Cardenas and Clark serve on the House Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, which H.R. 3084 was referred to by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration. Also, as of May 12, no companion bill to H.R. 3084 has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Several members of the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity have stated to the NHBPA that the coalition is working on a new draft bill, but to date, no such draft has surfaced publicly and it is possible the coalition may not circulate it outside of the coalition in the near term. It is to be expected that the coalition will continue its efforts to recruit additional support for H.R. 3084 in order to better position itself and its “new bill.” Once again, the NHBPA urges members to continue the grass-roots opposition at the state level. As always, the NHBPA is available to answer any questions or address any concerns about this legislation. Please visit the NHBPA website at hbpa.org for further updates. Below is the written statement by NHBPA CEO Eric Hamelback that was submitted to the Horse Caucus: Representatives Barr and Tonko, co-chairmen and other distinguished members of this caucus, thank you for the opportunity to address you on behalf of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (National HBPA). The National HBPA has been representing the interests of Thoroughbred owners and trainers racing in North America since 1940. There are over 29,000 owner and trainer members of the National HBPA throughout the United States and Canada focused on the common goals: the betterment of current and future racing at all levels, safe and fair horse racing, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of the equine athlete. With 30 affiliates in North America, we are without question the largest horsemen’s group of owners and trainers throughout the United States and Canada. Our affiliates are located in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Membership is open without restriction to all owners and trainers licensed by state racing authorities.
WWW.NATIONALHBPA.COM
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