Audit: LA Racing Commission lacks regulations to ensure health, safety

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A state legislative audit finds that the Racing Commission lacks sufficient regulations and processes to ensure tracks for horse racing comply with health, safety and welfare standards.

Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera released the report early Monday morning.

The report states that the commission's regulations on health, safety and welfare at tracks "do not require the presence of an equine ambulance at races, inside and outside rails at the tracks, backup lighting systems, safety requirements for the surface of the racetrack, or adequate drainage systems for the track, all of which affect the health, safety and welfare of horses and the public at racetracks."

Although state law has recently increased the fines the commission can impose on tracks to $100,000 for noncompliance and has given the commission the authority to suspend a racetrack's license for failing to meet criteria for licensing and maintaining suitable racing surfaces, it has never done so.

The report says the commission needs to develop a formal inspection process to document race track compliance.

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