Iowa HBPA Denied Injunctive Relief Against HISA

A federal judge refused to enjoin the operations of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority in a July 11 ruling after a hearing in Little Rock, Ark.

Judge James M. Moody made a “docket entry” ruling denying a motion for preliminary injunction against HISA in the case filed in April by the Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and others. The docket entry does not spell out in written detail the court’s rationale for its decision; instead, Moody verbalized his thoughts to a gathering of attorneys immediately following oral arguments.

“After argument from counsel, the Court denies…plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction, for the reasons stated on the record,” Moody wrote in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Arkansas and Iowa are in the Eighth Circuit of the federal court system.

A similar case filed against HISA by the State of Oklahoma and others, which is in the Sixth Circuit, was denied May 18 and is final pending a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court for review.

A federal district court in Texas found HISA constitutional for the second time earlier this year. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which declared HISA unconstitutional on appeal of the initial district court ruling, will review in October an amendment considered by HISA proponents to be a “legislative fix” to the enabling legislation.

Another suit filed against HISA in an Oklahoma federal court, which is in the Tenth Circuit, was voluntarily dismissed June 28.