Tens of thousands of new H-2B visas authorized, easing pressure on backstretches
The Department of Labor has authorized the release of nearly 65,000 new H-2B visas, which allow foreigners to work on a temporary basis in the U.S. in specific sectors of the economy, including racetracks, according to a DOL announcement.
The authorization will likely relieve pressure on the backsides of U.S. racetracks, where trainers rely heavily on the H-2B visa program for workers. The initial authorization was for 66,000 visas, but that cap has been modified consistently over the past decade under Labor Departments of both Democratic and Republican administrations, often quietly.
The doubling of the cap comes amid a broader crackdown on foreign labor and heated rhetoric on the role of immigration in the U.S. economy. In the past 12 months, two U.S. racetracks have been raided, most notably Delta Downs in Louisiana, where 84 people were arrested in June during the track’s Quarter Horse meet.
That raid sent concerns rippling throughout the U.S. racing industry that the Trump administration would target additional racetracks. However, the business community has lobbied behind the scenes to distance the H-2B visa program from illegal immigration, and Trump himself said in 2025 that certain industries, such as hospitality and landscaping, which also rely heavily on the programs, would likely be spared.
This summer, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association sent a notice to its members urging trainers to contact their legislators in support of the H-2B visa program. Other industry lobbying groups also urged the administration to raise the cap.
The H-2B visa program allows “guest workers” to work in the U.S. for six months. Complying with the requirements of the program is both costly and time consuming, but trainers routinely contend that they cannot find domestic workers to fill positions for grooming and hotwalking.
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