Triple Crown-Winning Jockeys Join WHOA

A trio of Triple Crown-winning jockeys, Ron Turcotte, Jean Cruguet and Steve Cauthen, have joined the ranks of the Water Hay Oats Alliance, a grassroot movement which supports the passage of federal legislation to prohibit the use of medications in horse racing.
In a statement released by WHOA Sunday, the three retired jockeys said,
“Few people have more reason to love Thoroughbred racing than we do. Each of our lives was dramatically changed by riding a Triple Crown winner, the pinnacle for a North American jockey. We have tasted the thrill of being atop great horses in the greatest of all races, and we have ridden the crest of the sport's popularity and national prominence.
Now, after 37 years and thanks to the captivating American Pharoah, we finally have another Triple Crown winner. Although the drought has ended, it is clear that the sport still is terribly troubled and in dire need of reform. The use of performance-enhancing drugs is weakening the breed, and inconsistent regulation is casting a shadow over horse racing.
The winner's circle is the destination of a Thoroughbred's natural competitive drive. It should be a place of integrity, where courage is honored and talent is celebrated. In our collective experience, our passion for the sport of racing, and our love and respect for these magnificent equine athletes, we wholeheartedly support passage of federal legislation to prohibit the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the sport of horse racing.
The Thoroughbred Horse Integrity Act of 2015 (HR 3084) would appoint the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to develop and oversee a national anti-doping program to stop the problem of widespread drug use in American racing and put U.S. racing jurisdictions in step with international standards.
This legislation would protect the future of the breed as well as the uniformity of the sport. We are proud to join the Water Hay Oats Alliance in this effort. It is time that American racing interests embrace USADA oversight.”