US Racing Investigators Visit France for Exchange

A team of US racing investigators will travel to France and the United Kingdom for a two-week program starting June 21. The initiative, organized by the Organization of Racing Investigators, continues the efforts started in 2023 to build direct communication with international counterparts and examine how racing integrity is managed in other regions.

This year’s itinerary includes meetings with France Gallop and Le Trot in Paris, followed by visits to key horse racing sites in both countries. Jason Klouser from the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission will head the team. He is part of the board for racing investigators. He took a key part in setting up the plan and sorting out the details for both sides of the Atlantic.

Help for the trip is from friends in local spots: Samuel Fargeat in France and John Burgess in the UK. Their assistance has helped align the schedule with relevant institutions and professionals.

The trip starts in Paris, where the team will meet big names from France Galop, who look after flat and jump races, and Le Trot, who handle trotting races. They plan to talk about how different areas control rules, watch races, and deal with horse health and illegal betting. The team will also go to Haras de Beaumont, a big farm, and training spots at Chantilly Racecourse. These visits will help them see how France takes care of and gets horses ready each day.

Next, in the United Kingdom, the investigators will keep going with stops at Epsom Downs and Windsor Racecourse, both famous for their regular races and long history. The team also plans to meet with folks from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in their London office. They plan to look into race watch tech, reporting ways, license stuff, and ways to enforce rules. The British regulatory framework offers a contrasting approach that may help broaden the perspective of the visiting group.

The trip lets US racing investigators see how other racing areas keep rules, run checks, and stay open in the sport. Each place has its own laws and ways of doing things, but sharing info can help align how things are done and find better ways to deal with shared problems.

The organization of racing investigators includes professionals from racing commissions and enforcement units across the US racing industry. This annual program aims to introduce new concepts and promote understanding of how racing integrity can be maintained through consistent and clear procedures. Last year, the trip had stops in Ireland. There, the group met with top people at Ballydoyle and went to events at Royal Ascot. The good words from those on the 2023 trip made us keep and grow this work.

Even though the visit lasts two weeks and is mostly about work, there is a big push to share ideas. US racing participants will share their own experiences and approaches to rule enforcement, technology use, and incident review procedures. Talks about now’s big problems, like illegal betting, drug use, and rule changes, will happen too.

As global races pull in more people, teaming up across lands matters more. How rules are set can change events here and far off. This exchange allows participants to identify practical improvements while building direct relationships with those in similar roles abroad.

The Investigator Exchange program reflects a broader commitment to fair competition and the responsible management of racing operations. Participants are expected to bring back new information, observe how other authorities operate in real time, and report their findings to their home jurisdictions. This effort supports a more informed approach to decision-making in US racing oversight.

By the conclusion of the trip in early July, the organization of racing investigators expects the visit to provide useful insights that can lead to operational updates, greater consistency, and stronger lines of communication across racing jurisdictions.