Let’s take a look at THE RULES
I recently had an exchange with Lisa Lazarus the CEO of HISA in which she basically advised that her organization was toothless to enforce Paco Lopez’s suspension as he is riding in Louisiana. Louisiana and HISA are tied up in the courts and nothing Paco does there can be counted against him. Essentially he is riding while serving his suspension. This reminded me of the Jockey Club’s voluntary registry to track retired horses. Toothless. Does anyone think the honor system works in the Sport of Kings? The strictest penalties of The Jockey Club apply when one owes them money. Does anyone see a problem with that? Toothless rules have no bite and are as serious as a shark with no teeth. You might as well be a goldfish.
Spare me all the words why this or that can’t be done. Action speaks louder than words. Make things happen.
To the Board of Stewards of The Jockey Club,
The American Stud Book has served as the bedrock of the Thoroughbred breed since 1894. However, in an era of federal oversight and heightened public scrutiny regarding welfare, doping, and the slaughter pipeline; the current “Principal Rules and Requirements” contain significant deficiencies that allow bad actors to skirt accountability while the horse pays the price.
To preserve the integrity of the sport and the breed, we call for the following immediate reforms to close the loopholes within the Jockey Club Rule Book.
I. Redefining “Good Standing” Beyond the Ledger
The Loophole: Currently, Rule 21(G) defines “good standing” almost exclusively by financial compliance, stating an owner or breeder is not in good standing if they have “outstanding fees owed to The Jockey Club”.
The Reform: “Good Standing” must be expanded to include ethical and welfare compliance.
- Any individual under a HISA “Provisional Suspension” for a Banned Substance violation should have their registry privileges (naming, registration, and transfers) provisionally frozen.
- Registry privileges should be a reward for integrity, not just a receipt for paid invoices.
II. Ending the “Final Determination” Delay
The Loophole: Rule 19(A)4 dictates that the denial of privileges for cruelty or medication violations only occurs after a “final determination by a court… or an official racing body”. This allows individuals to continue registering foals for years while legal cases drag through the system.
The Reform: Implement a “Registry Stay” for serious offenses.
- If a Person receives a “Rule 19 Notification” based on reasonable evidence of egregious abuse or systemic doping, The Jockey Club must have the authority to suspend registry actions immediately, shifting the burden of proof to the violator to restore their status. Racing is a privilege not a right, act accordingly.
III. Transforming the “Retired from Racing” Mirage into Reality
The Loophole: Rule 18 offers the “Sold as Retired from Racing” stamp, yet this is entirely voluntary and provides zero tracking once the certificate is returned to the purchaser. This lack of oversight is a primary contributor to the slaughter pipeline.
The Reform: Mandatory Lifelong Traceability.
- Make the “Sold as Retired from Racing” process mandatory for all horses leaving the track, rather than an optional desire of the owner.
- Integrate a mandatory “Transfer of Ownership” report (Rule 7) for every change of hand, including non-racing sales, to ensure no Thoroughbred “drops off the grid” into an untraceable slaughter channel. The honor system works about as effectively as a sign in the bathroom if the club in the 80’s.
IV. Mandatory Funding for Aftercare
The Loophole: While fees for genetic typing, naming, and late registration are clearly outlined (Rules 4, 6, 11), there is no mandatory national levy dedicated to the lifelong aftercare of the horses from which the Registry profits.
The Reform: The Integrity Levy.
Implement a mandatory % “Welfare Assessment” on all Stallion Reports (Rule 14) and Foal Registrations (Rule 2).
These funds should be restricted specifically for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and emergency “bail-out” funds for horses identified in kill pens or at-risk environments. Awareness brings change, abolish censorship requirements for accreditation grants.
The “Safe Harbor” Blind Spot: Restricting the Puerto Rico Pipeline
The Issue: The recent tragedy at Camarero Racetrack, where several Thoroughbred racehorses died and dozens remain affected due to the off-label use of a contaminated medication called “Hycoat,” exposes a massive welfare gap. While the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission is reportedly offering shipping subsidies of $1,000 to $1,500 per horse to encourage more imports to fill their racing cards, major mainland tracks like Gulfstream Park have taken a hard line, warning that any license holder who ships a horse to Puerto Rico will no longer be welcomed at 1/ST facilities.
The Jockey Club, however, remains silent. Under the current rules, TJC effectively treats shipping a horse to Puerto Rico as a mere administrative transfer rather than a high-risk welfare event.
The Rule Book Loophole: Rule 10 & Rule 19
Export vs. Domestic Transfer: Under Rule 10, TJC maintains strict requirements for horses exported outside the United States, Puerto Rico, or Canada. Because Puerto Rico is classified as domestic within the registry’s geography, horses can be shipped there without the “Certificate of Exportation” or the rigorous identity and health oversight required for international shipping.
The “Wait for a Conviction” Failure: Rule 19(A)4 allows TJC to deny privileges only after a final determination of cruelty by a court. By the time a “final determination” is made regarding the deaths at Camarero, dozens more horses will have already been shipped into the same dangerous environment under the current commission subsidies.
The Fix: Mandatory Welfare Sanctions for High-Risk Shipping
Destination-Based Registration Bans: TJC should exercise its authority under Rule 1(C)—which allows it to require “further evidence and assurances” for registration—to implement a temporary ban on registration privileges for any individual who ships a horse to a jurisdiction currently under a “Welfare Alert”.
Emergency Suspension of Registry Privileges: TJC must amend Rule 19 to allow for the immediate suspension of privileges for any individual sending horses to jurisdictions where systemic welfare failures (such as the recent contaminated injection deaths) have been documented by credible industry reports.
Reciprocal Blacklisting: TJC should officially adopt and enforce the “not welcome” lists of major racing associations. If a trainer is barred from Gulfstream or Santa Anita for shipping to Puerto Rico, their ability to register or name a horse with TJC should be automatically frozen until the horse is safely accounted for.
The Path Forward The Jockey Club has the “sole and exclusive property” of all registration materials and the “sole discretion” to amend these rules. It is time to use that authority to protect the horse as vigorously as you protect the pedigree. The “Paper Shield” is no longer enough. We need a fortress of integrity.
