HISA changes rollout date of Horseshoes and Part of Whip Regulations

The Authority also clarifies Claiming, Prohibited Practices and Registration

HISA’s new horseshoe requirements (Rule 2276) will not be enforced until August 1, 2022, to ensure adequate inventory of HISA compliant horseshoes. 

2276. Horseshoes 

(a) Except for full rims 2 millimeters or less from the ground surface of the Horseshoe, traction devices are prohibited on forelimb and hindlimb Horseshoes during racing and training on dirt or synthetic racing tracks. 

(b) Traction devices are prohibited on forelimb and hindlimb Horseshoes during training and racing on the turf. 

(c) Traction devices include but are not limited to rims, toe grabs, bends, jar calks and stickers.

The riding crop specification Rule 2281 will not be enforced until August 1, 2022, to enable adequate inventory of HISA compliant crops. However, Rule 2280 will be enforced July 1. 

Rule 2281 dictates the design of the crop allowed to be used. A padded crop similar to the one currently in use designed by Ramon Dominguez is specified with additional specifics on weight, length, width and covering material. Click here for complete rule. 

There are 11 regulations applying to jockeys. See other regulations here.

Racehorse Monitoring and Vaccinations 

Enforcement of the HISA vaccination requirements (Rule 2143) is delayed until January 1, 2023 to allow horses to be vaccinated with previously unrequired vaccines at times that do not interfere with training and racing schedules. HISA vaccines must be administered by January 1, 2023. 

HISA vaccination requirements are in addition to all state and racetrack vaccine requirements; therefore, all state and racetrack requirements still apply. 

Regarding Claiming and Transfer of Records

When a Horse is successfully claimed (Rule 2261) by a new Trainer, the previous Trainer must transfer Trainer records … to the new Trainer within three (3) days of transfer of the Horse to the new Trainer. 

Note: ‘Trainer records’ include only records of medical, therapeutic, and surgical treatments and procedures. Required records do NOT include other materials related to training techniques or protocols. 

The veterinary treatment records submitted to HISA by the Attending Veterinarian are associated with the Horse’s data record and as such, they travel with the Horse. As soon as the Designated Owner and/or Responsible Person (usually the Trainer) are changed in the HISA System, the new Designated Owner and Responsible Person will have access to the veterinary treatment records of the claimed horse. 

However, the Trainer treatment records, which are only required to be maintained by the trainer (and not submitted by the trainer unless specifically requested by HISA), would be transferred according to the following process: 

1. The Claiming Clerk will process the claim, changing the Responsible Person and/or Designated Owner to the new Designated Owner and/or Responsible Person (in the HISA System). 
2. A message will be sent to both the Current Responsible Person and the new Designated Owner and/or Responsible Person (using HISA Messaging System) directing the process for transfer of trainer treatment records. 
3. The Current Responsible Person will be directed to a Claim Form on the HISA website for listing all treatments performed on the horse within the last 60 days, including medical, therapeutic, and surgical treatments. 
4. The Current Responsible Person will send the completed Claim Form to the new Designated Owner and/or Responsible Person outside of the HISA System. For example, the Current Responsible Person obtains the contact information of the new Designated Owner/Responsible Person from the Claiming Clerk so they can email the form. 
5. A message will be sent to the new Designated Owner and/or Responsible Person asking them to confirm receipt of the Horse records. Additional technological innovations may further facilitate the process. 

Note: Trainers are not required to maintain nor transfer Horse training records, nor are they required to transfer records created prior to July 1. Therefore, if a Horse is claimed on July 15, trainers are only expected to transfer 15 days of records. 

Rule 2271. Prohibited Practices 
The following are now prohibited practices: 

(d) Thermocautery including but not limited to pin firing and freeze firing, or application of any substance to cause vesiculation or blistering of the skin, or a counter-irritant effect. 

• The prohibition on pin firing and freeze firing applies only to the dorsal surface of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bones (“shins”). This prohibition will apply beginning with the foal crop of 2022; it will not apply to horses foaled prior to 2022. 
• Pin firing and freeze firing of other structures is not prohibited. 
• Application of any substance to cause vesiculation or blistering of the skin or a counter-irritant effect is prohibited on all structures. 

(f) Use of electrical medical therapeutic devices including magnetic wave therapy, laser, electro-magnetic blankets, boots, electro-shock, or any other electrical devices that may produce an analgesic effect within forty-eight (48) hours of a training activity or of the start of the published post time for which a Horse is scheduled to race. • ‘Analgesic effect’ means a pain-masking effect that would compromise the ability to determine a Horse’s soundness. Therefore, those modalities may be used for other purposes.
• ‘Training activity’ means a published high-speed work. 

Rule 9000. Registration Of Covered Persons And Covered Horses 

(a) Registration Requirement for Covered Persons. A Covered Person as defined by 15 USC § 3051(6) shall register with the Authority in accordance with this rule on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority website at https://portal.hisausapps.org/registration. 

• Enforcement of the requirement to register under Rule 9000(a) will begin on July 2, 2022, the day after the program effective date of July 1, 2022. 
• Any person who has registered with HISA may request to be unregistered by sending an email with the request to HISA at unregister@hisaus.org. A person shall be deemed unregistered immediately upon HISA’s receipt of the email according to the date stamp on the email. 

Additional resources and information may be found on the HISA website at https://www.hisaus.org/. Implementation resources are located on the Resources page of the website at https://www.hisaus.org/home#resources. 

HISA News Release
UPDATED 6/24/2022 2:42 PM