Statement by National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) President and CEO Alex Waldrop on legislation filed by U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and U.S. Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) to repeal the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978:

“The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) strongly opposes this most recent attack on horseracing by Sen. Udall and Rep. Pitts, who have introduced federal legislation that threatens to destroy the economic viability of the $26 billion horseracing industry and the 380,000 jobs it supports nationwide.

“This bill is a shameless publicity stunt that mischaracterizes one of the nation’s most highly regulated sports, ignores the significant progress the industry has achieved at the state level in recent years through widespread adoption of the National Uniform Medication Program, and unfairly disparages thousands of people who work every day to make horseracing as safe and fair as possible for all participants.”