Another Congresional Hearing on Horse Racing

April 30 is the date for a hearing on health and safety issues in horse racing before the subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The hearing was called by U.S. Rep Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania who chairs the subcommittee and the location is Unionville High School in Kennet Square, Pa, which is located in his district.

Testimony will be by invitation only and so far Roy and Gretchen Jackson as well as George Strawbridge, all thoroughbred owners and breeders, are slated to testify. According to Bloodhorse, the hearing has been in the works for about two weeks, on the heels of the New York Times articles about the dark side of horse racing and about a month after two members of Congress re-introduced the legislation that would ban all-race day medication in racehorses.

I can tell you where the Jacksons and George Strawbridge come out on this issue since they have already testified against medication in racing at the previous congressional hearing on horse racing back in June 2008. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they point out that they have a already gone on the record against medication in horse racing.

Let's hope that this time around something will come of their efforts to clean up the sport and that this hearing is not merely for show. Something tells me that in an election year, this may not be the cae.