![]() ![]() In recent weeks we've heard fair criticism of aspects of HISA and we've heard noise aimed at exploiting those problems in an effort to go back to the old way (as if it were without problems). It's just that we've been able to continue to come forward, whether it's an amazing opportunity in the grade 1 Belmont Stakes or a $12,500 claimer, it's knowing we have the opportunity to march down that stretch and compete eye-to-eye with the horse that's next to them, and there's not a pharmaceutical in our way." "And it's not because we've done anything different in our practice. Their applied trade and their skillset will have an opportunity to shine where that 8% trainer historically-where it looks like they can't train a racehorse-it's all of a sudden, 'Wow, she's winning more or he's winning more.' "That guy or gal that busts their butt seven days a week-24/7-can walk into a race not feeling like they're going to watch another horse re-break at the head of the stretch. I think it has allowed a level playing field," Antonucci continued. ![]() "I feel the biggest benefit has been to probably the hardest hit trainers of this industry, which is the middle and smaller-middle size (trainer). It is this racing world that Antonucci sees HISA effectively bringing to an end. In this world, the honest trainer not only lost races, they lost horses to claims and potentially lost owners to these high-percentage conditioners. It was a world where cheat trainers could win at the highest level or they could claim a horse and immediately move them up for a quick payday while state regulators didn't seem to notice the conditioners consistently improving horses five or 10 lengths. That success came at the expense of honest trainers. Their horses earned $4,359,488, which represented 16% of the purses awarded that year at Monmouth. In this racing world that existed under the former state-to-state oversight of ADMC, trainers such as Jason Servis and Jorge Navarro, both since convicted on federal charges, thrived.įor instance, in 2019 at Monmouth Park Servis and Navarro finished first and second, respectively, at the meet by wins with a combined 108 victories and a 30% win rate. In a sport where race conditions are written to make the fields as evenly matched as possible, small advantages are big advantages. Availability of different pharmaceuticals, different really smart chemists-people looking to gain an edge that (HISA and HISA supporters) have worked so hard to try and neutralize."Īntonucci went on to outline how difficult it is for a trainer who aims to follow the rules to compete with those willing to break them. "It isn't a secret that there's different availability at different levels. "I may be a minority in this thought but I find (HISA) has been the great equalizer," Antonucci said. But if there was any doubt about the big picture-an effort that finally can bring about a sport where all participants take pride in fair competition and cheaters are left behind-the first woman to saddle a horse to victory in a United States classic race provided that reminder Thursday. In recent weeks the issues behind those changes, rightfully so, have made headlines as HISA finds the best and fairest path forward. The panel touched on a few of the tweaks and changes that HISA has made since launch of its ADMC efforts May 22-changes that Ben Mosier, executive director of HISA's enforcement arm, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit, said are typical in human sports as regulators and athletes work together to build fair sport. ![]()
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