The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has launched a new effort to modernize and harmonize the policies governing the Veterinarians’ List and Stewards’ List. It announced its plans on Monday, December 8, in a press release, saying it will undertake a comprehensive review throughout 2026 and culminate in updated national standards.
The initiative aims to bring more clarity and consistency to the criteria used to determine when a horse is placed on these lists and what must be done to return to full training or racing.
The project comes after many years of concern from horsemen about inconsistencies between jurisdictions, as well as the challenges created when horses are required to meet different removal criteria from state to state. When announcing the planned review, HISA stated that the goal is to create a modern framework that ensures equine welfare and regulatory transparency.
HISA claimed the review will be “comprehensive”, with the organization planning to conduct a detailed audit of existing policies across racetracks, state commissions, and HISA’s own rules. During early 2026, regulatory veterinarians and stewards will receive a survey that will form the foundation of the data-gathering phase. Next, HISA will follow up with interviews for more detailed insights on current practices and how they differ across the country.
These responses will help the Authority create a master list of existing categories and find areas where requirements differ between jurisdictions. According to HISA, these findings will then be internally analyzed to find “patterns, gaps, and areas where updates may be needed.”
After that phase, advisory groups, owners, trainers, racing offices, attending veterinarians, and industry stakeholders will work together to create a new, practical, and fair system that takes modern racing realities into consideration.
The organization claimed the review was a natural step in its mission of improving equine safety and ensuring national regulatory cohesion. “The current structure of the Veterinarians’ List and relevant Stewards’ Lists, which are based on legacy categories created decades ago, varies widely across states and racetracks and, in some cases, is no longer fit for purpose in a modern, national racing environment,” said Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, HISA’s Director of Equine Safety and Welfare. She continued, “We’re thrilled to be launching this initiative, which will provide clarity, consistency, and fairness in a system that affects horses, veterinarians, trainers, and owners alike. As with any HISA initiative, our goal is to promote equity among all stakeholders and ensure more transparency into national safety metrics, while providing appropriate protections for horses identified as being at increased risk for injury.”
This clarity will also indirectly benefit horse racing fans, who will have a better understanding of the criteria that will place and release horses from these lists. This insight is useful for those engaging in Arizona mobile sports betting, like those using their smartphones for betting on events at Turf Paradise, as well as those interested in other major racing events like the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup. The updated HISA frameworks will allow bettors to gather more transparent information and make informed decisions.
Horsemen have been frustrated with HISA’s regulatory variances for many years. There are discrepancies between the requirements that should be met for removal from the lists, like passing vet exams, completing timed workouts, and having clean test results. HISA’s new national approach will eliminate these discrepancies and create a single standard that aligns with veterinary knowledge and practices that monitor injury risk.
The process will begin after the surveys are distributed in early 2026. Once all the responses have been collected and analyzed, the Authority will consult with its advisory committees and industry participants to refine the framework. Horse welfare remains critical, and HISA has reiterated that the lists play an important preventative role by identifying horses that may need additional evaluation or recovery time before returning to racing.
The results of the review will be made public. Once the project is complete, the findings will be released, and the newly structured categories for the Veterinarians’ and Stewards’ lists will be detailed, finally offering the transparency that horsemen and stakeholders have been calling for.
