Speaker Series: Sam Reinhardt, HISA
As part of the Speaker Series, Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) students had the opportunity to hear from Sam Reinhardt, Associate General Counsel for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).
Sam’s path to HISA wasn’t the typical “born into the business” story. Although he grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, the heart of horse country, he didn’t come from a racing family. His first trip to Keeneland came late in high school, but it sparked a lasting passion for the sport. After several years in private law practice, Sam made the leap to join HISA, to help shape the future of racing through its evolving regulatory framework.
At HISA, Sam’s responsibilities span a wide range of legal and operational areas, including litigation, rule enforcement, veterinary compliance, and racetrack safety. During his talk, he outlined how HISA enforces important rules, such as limitations on crop use (no more than six strikes per race) and mandatory veterinary record reporting.
He explained how the Authority’s mission of promoting safety and integrity depends heavily on accurate veterinary data. Over 6,000 treatment records are submitted each day. Sam also provided insight into HISA’s legal structure as a federally authorized body that operates under oversight from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) but is not itself a government agency.
Throughout his discussion, Sam’s enthusiasm for both horse racing and the law was unmistakable. He even shared stories of when he was involved as a racehorse owner prior to joining HISA. Overall, Sam offered RTIP students a valuable, behind-the-scenes look at how HISA’s legal and enforcement efforts work together to promote safer, fairer racing. And, how a lifelong fan of the sport found a way to turn his passion into a profession.