News


Racing Integrity Teams Deployed
Racing Integrity Teams deployed to major events in Oklahoma in May and June.

Racing Integrity Teams Deployed

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—JUNE 23, 2017—The American Quarter Horse Association is committed to protecting the welfare of the American Quarter Horse. As part of this pursuit, AQHA is regularly teaming up with racetracks and racing commissions to deploy Racing Integrity Teams to racing events.

These teams, which include trained racing investigators from many jurisdictions are deployed to help individual racetracks and racing commissions provide a higher level of compliance with their rules and laws and to help increase the level of racing integrity at racetracks where they are deployed. Their work includes assisting local racing commission and track staff; performing searches of barns, stalls or cars; sharing knowledge and intelligence with local enforcement teams; and other general security and deterrent actions.

During May and June, multiple teams were deployed to the Quarter Horse mixed meet at Remington Park to assist with additional security by working with the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission and Remington Park. The teams included investigators from California, Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York and Texas. The Racetrack Integrity Team members are all members of the Organization of Racing Investigators, and the teams often have hundreds of years of combined experience between them.

"Our goal is to partner with the commissions, the tracks, and in some cases the AQHA Racing Affiliates to help enforce all rules of racing," said AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber. "This can include monitoring proper licensing, checking for the presence of prohibited substances, searches for illegal equipment, and even keeping an eye out for possible human drug use. Our teams can also assist in training investigative and security personnel so that each jurisdiction can work toward implementing its own Integrity Team in order to help serve as a valuable deterrent for improper and illegal activity at racetracks."

The teams received positive support and appreciation from horsemen, owners and racetrack representatives alike.

The RITs are just one step in AQHA’s commitment to protecting the welfare of the American Quarter Horse and protecting the interest of the public.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the AQHA Racing Newscast and visit www.aqharacing.com.