Over the weekend, history was made when, winning the Belmont Stakes, American Pharoah became the first racing horse since 1978 to win the Triple Crown. We congratulate his jockey, his trainers and everyone involved in making this possible. It’s an extraordinary achievement.
In the wake of such an important achievement, it’s also an opportune time to open up a national discussion about the state of horse racing.
Unfortunately, most race horses in the United States are drugged on race day — something that simply is not allowed in other countries.
No other sport would tolerate this level of cheating. Imagine what would happen if the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers were a match where 90 percent of the players were drugged. There would be national outrage by basketball fans and non-fans alike. No one would take the outcome seriously, and the public would quickly lose interest.
The most common of these race-day drugs used on horses is called Lasix. Race horses run so hard that their lungs literally bleed, so many of their owners and trainers inject them with Lasix to control the bleeding. It is a gruesome image to think about, but it is the reality of the horse racing industry today.
Even worse is the fact that about two dozen horses die on race tracks each week, often because they are sick and are being forced to run anyway.
Horses like American Pharoah can weigh over 1,000 pounds and run up to 40 miles per hour. When horses collapse, jockeys sustain serious injuries. In fact, a 17-year-old apprentice jockey, Juan Saez, who was widely considered to be a rising star, was killed at the Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Ind., when his horse collapsed.
What can be done about this problem? For more than 30 years, the industry has had time to reform. It is a $102 billion business, and they obviously have resources. It is the will that is missing.
That is why we joined together on a bipartisan basis to do something. We’re members of Congress from both parties and from very different parts of the country — central Pennsylvania, Silicon Valley and Chicagoland — but we’re united by some commonsense principles that can stop animal cruelty and restore horse racing to its former prestige.
Our bill, the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act, will not cost the taxpayer a penny, and it isn’t an expansion of government. It would simply give the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which tests Olympic athletes and UFC fighters, the authority to test race horses as well.
Horse racing is the only sport for which the federal government permits interstate gambling over the wire. Over 90 percent of the industry’s revenue comes from this source. This is a unique privilege and the industry should use it responsibly. The racing industry could support the testing service with a small percentage of their billions in profits. Only horses that race in simulcast events would be subject to the law.
Unlike football or baseball, there is not a single league that runs horse racing. Each state has separate regulations, testing regimens and punishments, so unscrupulous trainers and veterinarians can just move to another state if they have to.
Our legislation would fix this by setting up one uniform system. USADA would be able to ban cheaters and animal abusers from participation. Grave offenses would be subject to a zero tolerance policy: Anyone who commits one would be banned for life. Less serious offenses would be subject to a “three strikes and you’re out” rule.
At a 2013 hearing before the Energy and Commerce Committee, USADA officials told us that USADA is ready and willing to take on these responsibilities.
Other countries have similar rules in place to those we’re proposing. Many express their shock that Americans allow such rampant animal cruelty and cheating to go on, and we are just as appalled as they are.
The federal government should not allow any industry to systematically abuse its workers while enabling their profits.
Our bill is bipartisan. It costs the taxpayer nothing, and it will restore integrity to the “sport of kings.”
Now that’s a winner.
Joe Pitts is a Republican representing Pennsylvania’s 16th congressional district. Anna G. Eshoo is a Democrat representing the 18th congressional district of California. Jan Schakowsky is a Democrat representing Illinois’ ninth congressional district.Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
