MONTICELLO, N.Y. — On July 7, 2025, Frederick Bourgault, a 27-year-old Canadian harness racing trainer, was sentenced to two to six years in state prison for the unconscionable beating and killing of a horse under his care. Bourgault was convicted in April of two felony counts — second-degree criminal mischief and interference with or injury to … Read more
Horseracing
Split between two federal courts has created uncertainty, but for now, supporters are hopeful for future of law protecting Thoroughbred horses from racing-related abuses. Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action expressed optimism now that the U.S. Supreme Court has reactivated enforcement of the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Act in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas — a … Read more
As federal law fights to improve legal races, covert activities like those near Lubbock cannot be tolerated Hockley County, TX — Animal welfare groups applauded action by the Texas Racing Commission (TXRC) and local and state law enforcement to combat illegal horseracing, animal abuse, and gambling in Hockley County, near Lubbock. The initiative included collaboration … Read more
Fifth Circuit strikes down HISA, countermanding Sixth Circuit conclusions and creating a legal tangle that may require U.S. Supreme Court review. Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy reacted with dismay after a federal court struck down a key provision of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), contradicting … Read more
Federal law promoting safety of horses and jockeys has driven down on-track deaths, even as some outliers in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing networks seek to dismantle law Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy reacted favorably to news that the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear … Read more
Dramatic decline of Thoroughbreds in competition probably due to national track-safety rules, and the harness-racing industry has opted out of observing these HISA rules Washington, D.C. — Reacting to a recent spate of horse deaths tied to harness racing, Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy are calling for harness-racing leaders to … Read more
Louisiana still remains an outlier in refusing to join Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority program Washington, D.C. — Animal wellness groups support efforts by Churchill Downs Inc. to cancel the Louisiana Derby if the Louisiana Racing Commission does not fully rescind recent changes to its medication rules for race horses in that state. After … Read more
Louisiana remains an outlier in refusing to operate under Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority medication program; new rule shows that key horse racing stakeholders are addicted to doping horses Washington, D.C. — Animal wellness groups are condemning the Louisiana State Racing Commission for passing an “emergency rule” going into effect June 8 to reinforce … Read more
Press Release Given the staggering number of violations, the state racing board should ‘immediately ban’ trainer Dan Blacker. The Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action called on the California Horse Racing Board to immediately ban trainer Dan Blacker after the Los Angeles Times reported he has been cited 527 times for violating rules … Read more
No Healthy Young Horses Should Die on the Racetrack, HISA has the Power to make that Happen, Groups say Louisville, KY — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy applauded the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority today for its report on the rash of horse deaths at Churchill Downs earlier this year. … Read more