KENTUCKY — Horse racing’s new antidoping program administered by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority is now underway after it was put on hold for weeks by the FTC.

HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control program promises universal regulations to an industry that has been rocked by a spate of horse deaths at the home of the Kentucky Derby.

A ninth horse died on Saturday following a race at Churchill Downs—the ninth fatality since mid-April at the track. Most horses in question were euthanized due to catastrophic injuries, but a few collapsed due to unknown causes and are being investigated.

The federally mandated HISA first began the ADMC program, which covers rules for drug testing, drug sampling, out-of-competition testing, rulings, and penalties, on March 27.

The FTC's ruling to delay the program said the May 22 re-start would “avoid the chaos and confusion that could occur if the anti-doping rule became effective on May 1, during the lead-up to the Triple Crown races scheduled during May.” It also said the delay would “ensure that the horseracing industry has sufficient time to prepare for the anti-doping rule to be effective.”

Twenty-four states fall under HISA’s authority. The Belmont Stakes, the third and final jewel of the Triple Crown, will be run June 10 in New York under HISA's rules.

Horse racing deaths in the U.S. are at their lowest level since they began being tracked in 2009, the AP reported. Those in the industry have said they accept the realities of on-track deaths of horses while also acknowledging more work needs to be done to prevent as many as possible.