Scott Stanley Out At UK Lab, HIWU Diverting Samples

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit released the following joint statement March 5 on the status of the organizations' relationship with the University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. 

The statement follows a story published in The Blood-Horse March 4 that acknowledged Dr. Scott Stanley's removal as head of the testing lab. 

The Blood-Horse notes that the state of Kentucky committed $1.5 million from the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council to the testing lab in 2020, and Keeneland along with other donors committed $1.3 million to it in 2019. Stanley was hired in 2018 by the university to direct the lab. He remains employed by the university, and told Blood-Horse he plans to shift his focus to research at Gluck Equine Research Center.

On Tuesday, February 13, leadership from HISA, HIWU, and the University of Kentucky met in person to discuss concerns with the performance of the University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (UK Lab). At this time, HISA and HIWU were informed by the university that it was conducting an ongoing personnel investigation relating to Dr. Scott Stanley, the director of the UK Lab, and Dr. Stanley was not permitted to be in direct communication with the other staff at the laboratory. The university also expressed staffing concerns related to the laboratory’s operations.

On Friday, March 1, HISA and HIWU were formally notified by the University of Kentucky that Dr. Stanley was no longer serving as the director of the UK Lab. Following additional communications with the university, HISA and HIWU have opened an investigation into the UK Lab’s performance and are also cooperating with the university’s investigation. HISA and HIWU will update the industry once our investigation is concluded.

HISA and HIWU remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting the highest levels of safety, integrity, and welfare in Thoroughbred racing. As part of this commitment, we continually evaluate our partner laboratories through an external quality assurance program, as well as internal assessments. For the benefit of all human and equine stakeholders, laboratories who fail to satisfy our requirements will be removed from service in the ADMC Program.