Udall Urges Passage of His Bill Following “Disturbing” New York Times Story on Horseracing

Sen.  Tom Udall, D-N.M., today called for passage of his legislation to make horse racing safer and more humane in the aftermath of a front-page story in the New York Times Sunday that was highly critical of the sport in New Mexico.

Udall first introduced his bill aimed at horse racing in May 2011.

“The findings uncovered in The New York Times investigation about horseracing in the United States, and New Mexico in particular, paint a very disturbing picture of the industry,” Udall said in a statement. “The sport of horseracing which, at its best, showcases the majestic beauty of this animal and the athleticism of jockeys, has reached an alarming level of corruption and exploitation. The consequence of inconsistent state-level regulation is an epidemic of animal doping that has lead to countless euthanizations of helpless horses and the injury and death of their riders.”

“The Times exposé has shined a glaring light on the need for national standards in a sport that reaps gambling profits, but has lacked proper oversight for decades,” Udall added.

Udall has introduced legislation with Republican Rep. Ed Whitfield, who hails from the horse breeding state of Kentucky, to set minimum, nationwide standards for medication and doping of the animals. Udall said his bill would kick “cheaters” out of the sport.

“The horseracing industry has promised voluntary reforms for decades, but as we’ve painfully observed, our legislation is the only viable way to address doping problems plaguing the sport,” he said. ““Now is the time to end the unscrupulous practices of those trainers and track veterinarians in horseracing who abuse these magnificent animals and endanger jockeys for gambling profits.”