LEXINGTON- Congressman Andy Barr, R-KY-06, has reintroduced the Horseracing Integrity Act. 

The measure will establish an authority to create and implement a national uniform medication program with input from the horse industry. 

This reintroduction comes on the heels of the death of 22 horses at Santa Anita Park since December. While the bill is timely, Barr says he and co-sponsor Congressman Paul Tonko, D-New York, had already been working to reintroduce the legislation. 

"This is just another indication of why we need this legislation. Why we need reform of the through breed racing industry. This has been a long effort though this is not new," said Barr. "We have known for a long time that we need to reform the rules of racing because right now the industry labors under 38 different jurisdiction with conflicting and sometimes contradictory rules, especially when it comes to medications. It depends on what jurisdiction you are in, what medications are permitted, what medications are prohibited and then there's not a lot of uniformity when it comes to the accreditation of the laboratories that test for impermissible substances in the these equine athletes. And then finally there is variation state to state on the penalties if there is a violation." 

Barr says there needs to be uniform rules to keep public confidence in the sport. 

The legislation would do several things including establishing a regulatory organization that would create and implement an anti-doping program for the entire racing industry, create a standardized list for allowed and prohibited substances, treatments and methods in the country, require full information disclosure to breeding stock purchasers and the wagering public, and ban all medications within 24 hours of a race. 

Congressman Barr and Congressman Tonko have introduced a version of this legislation since 2015.