The Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity recently announced that Centaur Gaming – which owns and operates Indiana-based Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino and several off-track betting facilities – has joined as a member.
Following the addition of the Consigners and Commercial Breeders Association earlier this week and three New York and New Jersey-based tracks just last week, the move indicates continued momentum for national oversight of uniform medication standards in American horse racing.
“Centaur Gaming is absolutely dedicated to bringing the highest quality and best experience possible to racing enthusiasts and bettors in Indiana and throughout the Midwest,” said Centaur Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Rod Ratcliff. “The legislation endorsed by the Coalition would not only increase fairness for the men and women who wager their hard-earned dollars on racing, but would preserve the future of a sport around which our industry is built. Centaur Gaming and the racetracks, casinos and OTB facilities we represent are proud to join the Coalition in its efforts toward the uniform regulation of medication testing and enforcement in horse racing.”
Hoosier Park Racing & Casino has been selected by the Hambletonian Society to host the prestigious Breeders Crown championship harness races in 2017. Pending approval by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and Indiana Standardbred Association, the track would host the 12 year-end championship races, worth a combined $5 million.
Indiana Grand Racing & Casino conducts Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing at its track in Shelbyville, Indiana, home of the Indiana Derby and Indiana Oaks, both annual grade II races.
The Coalition's membership also includes the Breeders’ Cup Ltd., the Consigners and Commercial Breeders Association, the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Veterinary Medicine Association, The Jockey Club, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders, Meadowlands Racetrack, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, and the Water Hay Oats Alliance.
The Coalition supports the Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015. This bill, introduced in July 2015 to the House of Representatives by Congressmen Andy Barr (R-KY) and Paul Tonko (D-NY), will direct the non-governmental, non-profit U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to create an independent, racing-specific, non-governmental and non-profit organization to work collaboratively with state racing commissions and their respective staff members throughout the country.
(With files from Hoosier Park)