Why It Matters
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts, prompting its quarter two 2026 lobbying push. The organization filed its lobbying disclosure Aug. 11, reporting $110,000 in spending for the quarter. This matches its quarter one 2026 expenditure, but represents a significant decrease from late 2025, when the group spent $160,000 in the third quarter. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association operates as an in-house lobbying registrant with zero listed lobbyists or pieces of legislation.
Broader Context
The racing industry faces structural headwinds. U.S. horse racing handle in Q2 2026 dropped 2.54 percent year-over-year to $3.2 billion. The sector has contracted significantly over two decades, with 2025 handle down 57 percent in real value from the 2003 peak of $15.18 billion.
A June 2026 Fifth Circuit ruling found that the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act improperly delegates executive power to a private entity without adequate federal oversight, according to The Racing Biz.
Competing legislative proposals are circulating. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA-3) introduced the Racehorse Health and Safety Act as H.R. 3378, which he described as legislation that protects the health and welfare of racing horses and improves the integrity and safety of horse racing.
Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-6) reintroduced the Regulation Advancement for Capital Enhancement (RACE) Act, which streamlines Securities and Exchange Commission registration requirements for the thoroughbred racing industry and allows companies to more easily securitize ownership in thoroughbred racehorses.
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