Join Dr. Mary Scollay at Hawthorne on Saturday, March 4 to Learn About HISA’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program

Note that ITHA does not endorse HISA. The purpose of this event is solely to educate members about provisions of the new law that could directly affect the work of trainers.

Dr. Mary Scollay, Chief of Science for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), will visit Hawthorne Race Course on Saturday, March 4 to discuss the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program. 

The program will begin at 11 a.m. in the Hawthorne track kitchen. Complimentary brunch will be served. 

HISA is a new federal law and authority over thoroughbred horse racing. The law's provisions have profound implications for the work of trainers and owners in Illinois, as in every other U.S. thoroughbred horse racing jurisdiction. 

The new Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program will include the creation of a centralized testing and results management process. This means that Illinois thoroughbred racing essentially will have a brand new drug testing program; the program governed for decades by the state will instead be governed by the newly created HIWU. Some medication policies and withdrawal times will change. 

If the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program is implemented as planned on March 27, pending any court-imposed delay, HIWU will assume responsibility of thoroughbred anti-doping and medication control testing and enforcement. 

All Illinois trainers, owners and other interested persons are encouraged to attend this meeting with Dr. Scollay. A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Scollay has practiced in Illinois and is well respected by leaders of the state's thoroughbred horse racing industry.