HISA Names Dr. Jennifer Durenberger Director Of Equine Safety & Welfare

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) has appointed Dr. Jennifer Durenberger as Director of Equine Safety & Welfare, effective November 28, 2022.

Dr. Durenberger will advise HISA’s leadership and Standing Committees on equine health and welfare strategies and oversee HISA’s relationships with industry veterinarians and other key stakeholders to ensure consistency in the implementation of HISA’s equine safety and welfare policies nationwide.

“HISA is thrilled to have Dr. Durenberger sharing her insight and expertise to help protect the health and welfare of our sport’s magnificent equine athletes,” said Lazarus. “Dr. Durenberger’s leadership will be crucial to ensuring the success of HISA’s cooperative relationships with Regulatory, Association and Attending Veterinarians, and other industry stakeholders, as we continue to fulfill our mandate to enhance safety and integrity.”

Dr. Durenberger has more than 30 years of experience in Thoroughbred racing, most recently serving as the Jockey Club Steward for the New York Racing Association (NYRA). She is a member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s (NTRA) Safety and Integrity Alliance, where she serves as Senior Veterinary and Regulatory Consultant, and a board member of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP).

“It’s a privilege to join the exceptional team at HISA in its effort to improve equine health and safety through the introduction and enforcement of strong uniform rules,” said Dr. Durenberger. “I look forward to working with HISA’s experts as well as the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) to further position veterinarians and all racing participants for compliance and success.”

An accredited senior steward, Dr. Durenberger previously worked as the Chief Examining Veterinarian for NYRA, a Commission Veterinarian for the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), an Association Steward at Delta Downs in Louisiana, a Steward at Canterbury Park for the Minnesota Racing Commission and as Director of Racing for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Dr. Durenberger received a veterinary degree from Cornell University and a law degree from Western State University College of Law at Fullerton.

About the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority

Established when the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was signed into federal law in 2020, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is responsible for drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. Overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HISA was created to implement, for the first time, a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility. HISA is comprised of two programs: the Racetrack Safety Program, which went into effect July 1, 2022, and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which will go into effect in January 2023.

The Racetrack Safety Program includes operational safety rules and national racetrack accreditation standards that seek to enhance equine welfare and minimize equine and jockey injury. The Program expands veterinary oversight, imposes surface maintenance and testing requirements, enhances jockey safety, regulates riding crop use, and implements voided claim rules, among other important measures.

The ADMC Program will create a centralized testing and results management process and apply uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across the United States. These rules and enforcement mechanisms will be administered by a new independent agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), established by Drug Free Sport International (DFS). HIWU will oversee testing, educate stakeholders on the new program, accredit laboratories, investigate potential ADMC violations and prosecute any such violations.

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