WASHINGTON DC—APRIL 30, 2015—Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) announced today introduction of legislation that would end interstate simulcasts—and effectively cripple the pari-mutuel business—to encourage racing to end what they allege is widespread doping and cheating.

It's not the first time such legislation has been introduced in Congress, however it’s timing of the release on the eve of two of the biggest days in Thoroughbred racing, the week of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), portrays horse racing as riddled with cheating and equine drug abuse.

"Horse racing is the only sport specially permitted by federal law to offer online gambling and interstate betting, yet widespread corruption has stained the industry," the release from the two members of Congress said. "Chronic abuse of performance-enhancing drugs is commonplace in horse racing. Almost every horse is given race-day medication—banned in other countries—and no uniform medication rules or doping penalties exist."

The industry is in the process of adopting the National Uniform Medication Program, which addressed uniform rules and tougher, scaled penalties for violators.

Udall and Pitts said their latest bill calls for a repeal of the Interstate Horseracing Act, which governs simulcasts across state lines and advance deposit wagering. The law is critical to pari-mutuel horse racing.

The release states that 19 of 20 horses in the May 2 Kentucky Derby "will be injected shortly before post time," but if failed to mention that the legal therapeutic medication to be injected is the anti-bleeding drug known as Salix or Lasix. It goes on to reference recent cases of dermorphin use in Quarter Horses.

Industry officials couldn't be immediately reached for comment late Thursday. They earlier predicted much tamer federal legislation would be introduced this year that would authorize the United States Anti-Doping Agency to oversee equine drug testing in racing. The IHA would not be repealed under that proposed bill.