Advocates for change in horse racing didn't find much reason for optimism in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's legislative update held Aug. 7 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The presentation from lobbyist Greg Means, founder and principal of The Alpine Group in Washington, D.C., reviewed current legislation or proposals that pertain to racing. Included were bills covering the ways gamblers' winnings are reported and taxed, the acceleration of depreciation of Thoroughbreds for tax purposes, which expired at the end of 2013, and medication reform.

Means assessed the viability of federal intervention into the regulation of medication in racing, specifically a bill that would install the United States Anti-Doping Association as the regulator to develop guidelines and rules regarding medication use.

"What I think is going to happen to this bill," he said, "is nothing