Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has reminded all horsemen that Jan. 1, 2023, is the deadline to have all required vaccines and tests recorded on the HISA portal for all covered horses.
On this date, HISA will start enforcing the regulation. As required by HISA Rule 2134, a horse will be prevented from racing if the vaccines and tests are not listed on a horse’s health records or not up to date. Along with a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and a Coggins test, required vaccines are encephalitides, rabies, tetanus, influenza and rhinopneumonitis.
If a health certificate is submitted for a horse at a licensed racetrack facility or training center and is then transported directly to another licensed facility within the same state, another health certificate is not required to be provided. However, if the horse is transported from a licensed racetrack or training center to an unlicensed facility or farm between races or leaves the state between races, the health certificate must be presented.
The following requirements must be met for each test and vaccine in order to race.
- Certificate of Veterinary Inspection: 5 days or less prior to entry onto the racetrack
- Coggins test: Negative equine infectious anemia Coggins test
- Encephalitides vaccine: Within the prior 12 months
- Rabies vaccine: Within the prior 12 months
- Tetanus vaccine: Within the prior 12 months
- Influenza vaccine: Within the prior 180 days or sooner if high-risk situations dictate
- Rhinopneumonitis vaccine: Within the prior 180 days or sooner if high-risk situations dictate
HISA is requiring that horses entering the grounds of a racetrack have updated vaccinations and tests to enhance the health and welfare of all horses on the grounds of a racetrack. The following video how-to guides are available at hisaus.org through the “Blogs and Bulletins” link near the top of the home page.
How to enter vaccines and tests guide
How to enter vaccines and tests video
Easy vaccine entry guide
How to bulk-add medical records video
Racing office support line launched
The HISA technology team has created a new support line to assist all racing office personnel in resolving issues and disputes with the HISA status reporting system at time of entry.
The Race Day Support Line phone number is 1-866-404-4472. Once entries close and a HISA status report is generated, call the number to address any “flags” in the system that would prevent an individual or horse from racing. The line will connect racing office personnel directly with someone who can resolve or confirm any issues that arise in the HISA status report.
Callers will need to have their HISA ID number and the HISA IDs for the person or horse in question. Examples of flags are a trainer or jockey flagging as unregistered, but they are registered; a jockey is showing as having no baseline concussion examination date entered; or a horse cannot race because it hasn’t raced in a year.
Since these issues are often brought forward on or close to race day, callers should provide as much detailed information as possible during a phone call to ensure a speedy resolution.