Centaur Gaming backs appointment of USADA to regulate racing

The company that owns a harness track and a Thoroughbred track in Indiana has joined a coalition calling for the appointment of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to enforce U.S. racing’s medication policies and drug-testing programs, the coalition announced Thursday.

The company, Centaur Gaming, owns Hoosier Park Racing and Casino and Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, along with OTBs throughout the state. Centaur joins the three harness tracks owned by the Standardbred owner and breeder Jeff Gural as the only racetrack members of the coalition, which was formed by The Jockey Club and other supporters of a federal bill appointing the USADA.

Including the racetrack members, the coalition currently includes The Jockey Club, Breeders’ Cup Ltd., the Water Hay Oats Alliance, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners, the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association, and the U.S. Humane Society and its veterinary affiliate.

The bill, written by The Jockey Club with the support of other coalition members, has been introduced to a U.S. House subcommittee, but it is unclear if the legislation will move out of committee due to widespread opposition from many other racing organizations. Although similar bills have failed to get out of committee over the past several years, the coalition has mounted a far more aggressive public-relations campaign for this version of the legislation, including the enlistment of government figures and industry officials to write editorials supporting the bill.

Opponents of the bill, especially racetracks, have raised significant concerns over the bill’s use of federal interstate simulcasting rights as an enforcement mechanism and the potential that a federal bill could be used by anti-racing factions to place unattainable demands on the racing industry. In addition, rank-and-file horsemen’s groups have raised concerns that the effort will result in the prohibition of the race-day administration of the anti-bleeding medication furosemide, a controversial issue in U.S. racing.