PETA Statement About the Introduction of the Thoroughbred Horse Racing Anti-Doping Act of 2015

For Immediate Release:
July 16, 2015

The Thoroughbred Horse Racing Anti-Doping Act of 2015, introduced today by Rep. Paul Tonko of New York, came about because of PETA’s investigation of trainer Steve Asmussen, which showed that powerful medications are used to keep horses running when they should be recuperating from strain and injury. But the bill is so full of compromises with horseracing apologists that PETA cannot support it. The bill covers only Thoroughbreds, leaving tens of thousands of Standardbreds, quarter horses, and other breeds without protection; legitimizes the more than 100 drugs already used in racing, including the powerful and controversial race-day medication Lasix; and keeps racing insiders in key decision-making positions.

PETA urges support of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act introduced by Rep. Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania, Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, and Rep. Anna Eshoo of California. This bill would put the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency solely in charge of regulating medications and drug testing in racing and would also require veterinarians to take care of the horses rather than the financial interests of the owners and trainers.

— PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo