Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority hires Hester as national medical director

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has hired Dr. James Hester, an orthopedic surgeon, to be its national medical director, focusing on jockey health and welfare, the organization announced Tuesday.

Hester, who specializes in sports medicine and works at the Lexington Clinic in Kentucky, will be responsible for the standards that HISA develops to protect jockeys, including its concussion protocols. Hester also will focus on “improving health care services to jockeys and sourcing affordable medical insurance for jockeys and their families,” HISA said in a press release.

Hester was already associated with HISA through his appointment as an independent member of the authority’s Racetrack Safety Standing Committee. He will resign from that position to take on his new role. Hester also will continue as a practitioner at the Lexington Clinic, HISA said.