A federal judge in Louisiana on Thursday denied an 11th-hour call to stop the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, meaning it will go into effect on time on Friday.
This week, the states of Louisiana and West Virginia, their respective horsemen's groups and racing commissions, plus the Jockeys' Guild joined as plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop HISA.
Judge Terry A. Doughty declined to make an immediate ruling on those motions Thursday, according to BloodHorse. Instead, he signed an order providing the defendants until July 14 to respond to the suit. In addition to HISA, other defendants named include executive director Lisa Lazarus and the Federal Trade Commission.
As part of the lawsuit, the plaintiffs' included a 56-page complaint that alleges multiple violations by HISA. They include violations of the federal Administrative Procedures Act and of the Fourth Amendment and Seventh Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It also declared the FTC has exceeded its statutory authority in its role with HISA.
