Horse-racing industry facing makeover

ATLANTA, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The horse racing industry in the United States is ready for a significant makeover to alleviate prevalent animal abuse concerns, officials say.

Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson says he was hired by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association to conduct a review of the industry to alleviate concerns of animal doping and mistreatment, The Christian Science Monitor said Friday.

Thompson vowed to take a stern hand with the sporting industry if he uncovers instances of impropriety.

"I'm going to be tough and I'm going to be brutally candid," the former Wisconsin governor said. "If they fail, I'll give them a failing grade; if they succeed, I'll give them an A-plus."

But experts like University of Louisville horse racing expert Tim Capps have voiced doubt that any real change will take place in the controversial industry.

"(The racing industry) is trying to head off at the pass some federal intervention that they think could really change the industry in ways that could be detrimental," Capps told the Monitor. "But at the end of the day, is anything really going to change?"