I am writing as a very active owner of this sport to lend some support to the efforts being made by HISA. Despite the many bumps there have been, and no doubt will continue to be, there is nothing more important for owners than to feel like they can participate in this sport with a level playing field. And there is nothing more frustrating to an owner than losing to a trainer who is later found to be using unapproved performance enhancing methods or substances.
As someone who tracks the return on investment horses deliver off a claim by and from a trainer (once it has been six months from the date of the claim), I certainly saw some changes in the data for claims made since HISA implementation that suggests the HISA program is doing some good. For example, I observed a noticeable deterioration in claim financial performance for a couple trainers who had prior to HISA implementation been significantly above average to claim with. I also noticed an improvement in claim financial performance for a couple trainers who had been weaker to claim from prior to HISA implementation. And while the claim void rule has many detractors and may not be perfect, I feel it is a critical tool in protecting the horse (and the owner). I certainly saw significant positive behavior shifts by trainers as they adjusted to that implementation.
While I know there is still much to do to get the playing field completely level, I certainly feel better about where the sport is today than I ever have and I think more positive changes will come on this front over the next five years due to HISA’s efforts.
I of course also hope HISA will use good judgment when it comes to detection of trace amounts of substances that can be contaminants in feed as well as the use of hair test positives when the trainer has not had the horse for a long enough period of time to be sure the positive came from that trainer. There is still much to learn on that front. But it is nothing that cannot be overcome with some flexible thinking and common sense.
Change is always painful but the success and growth of the sport depends on it!
--Dr. Jeff Boschwitz, Ph.D
Owner/managing partner, PlayingTheField Racing
New Jersey
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