NTRA safety panel adds wagering standard

The Safety and Integrity Alliance of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association has added requirements relating to wagering security to the code of standards that determine whether a track receives the alliance's full accreditation, according to the alliance.

The new standards require racetracks to monitor their pools for any past-posting incidents and "promptly" investigate any suspicious wagers or transactions and pass details of the alleged incident to state regulatory authorities. In addition, the standards require tracks to adhere to bet-processing standards developed by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, a racetrack trade group, among other requirements.

The Safety and Integrity Alliance, which began accrediting tracks in 2009 in order to address public-perception concerns about horse racing, had maintained that it would add wagering security to its code of standards since being launched. The previous code of standards had provisions regarding human and equine safety procedures and protocols, along with requirements on drug testing. Several of those standards have been made more "rigorous" in the 2010 code, according to Mike Zeigler, the alliance's executive director.

Participation in the alliance is voluntary. The alliance has so far granted full accreditation to 15 tracks and inspected 18 tracks.