SRIF emphasizes education as a means to prevent misconduct in harness racing
April 20, 2026
US Trotting
Types : In the News
Since its creation six years ago, the Standardbred Racing Investigative Fund has worked on behalf of the U.S. Trotting Association to investigate allegations of wrongdoing within the harness racing industry. And while uncovering misconduct is SRIF’s focus, education also plays a valuable role in supporting SRIF and the USTA’s joint goal of promoting integrity within the sport.
SRIF, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, works in partnership with the USTA. Headed by attorney Carson Morris, SRIF’s legal counsel, and lead investigator Vicki Humphreys, a former special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, SRIF investigates suspected violations of the USTA’s rules and bylaws at the behest of the USTA through an alliance agreement. All SRIF’s work on behalf the USTA is subject to independent third-party oversight.
Several investigations already completed by SRIF have resulted in USTA disciplinary action. But, as Morris wrote last year in an article for Hoof Beats magazine, “The goal is not just to catch wrongdoers but to reform the cultural norms and expectations in Standardbred racing so that misconduct does not occur in the first place.”
Education is a road to that destination. While the priority is to keep the harness racing industry informed on the work SRIF is doing, the USTA and SRIF have stepped into the forefront on integrity initiatives common to all equine sports. Morris this year presented on the topic of SRIF at conferences hosted by the Organization of Racing Investigators and the Association of Racing Commissioners International. He will speak at the 40th annual National Conference on Equine Law in Lexington, KY, April 29-30.
“I think it’s essential to engage with stakeholders in the industry to show our commitment and the good work that we’re doing,” Morris said. “Hopefully, we can share information with other breeds and collaborate. These are problems that everyone faces, and I think we’ve figured out an effective way to address it, and how necessary it is for us to carry out investigations the way we have been.
“Communication is almost as important as doing the work and having successful investigations. If people don’t know what you’re doing, if they don’t get the message, then that cultural change doesn’t happen. People need to know this type of misconduct isn’t going to be accepted. I think the message is getting out. I think this is a source of positive change.”