Churchill Downs, NYRA sue new federally empowered horse racing regulator

A new national body that regulates the safety and integrity of horseracing has become the target of a constitutional lawsuit that could shake up the sport.

Last week, Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) sued the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and others in a Kentucky federal district court. Churchill Downs conducts the Kentucky Derby and other racing activities, while NYRA operates New York’s three largest thoroughbred tracks: Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

The plaintiffs contend that actions by HISA—a private regulatory organization that Congress vested with power to oversee the sport—violate the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act.