BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

TOC Commits to Uniform Medication Program

Thoroughbred Owners of California will join regulators from eight states in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast by committing to implement the Mid Atlantic Uniform Medication Program beginning in January 2014.

Still No Uniform Medication in Triple Crown

While in recent years horse racing has made strides toward drug reform and uniform medication rules, one only need look at its biggest series, the Triple Crown, to see a lack of consistency.

Use of Calming Agent in Racehorses Examined

The horse racing industry is taking a closer look at a relaxant that produces optimum results when administered within a few hours of a race. The prevalence of GABA, a supplement, is open to speculation.

RMTC Board Recommends Drug Withdrawal Times

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium board of directors adopted recommendations for thresholds and withdrawal times for four therapeutic medications at its March 19 meeting in Baltimore.

Eight States Commit to Uniform Drug Rules

The regulators of eight states in the Northeast region have committed to a uniform medication and drug testing program in a move supporters believe is a step toward uniform regulation of medication and drug testing.

WV Issues Support for Uniform Medication Plan

The West Virginia Racing Commission Feb. 26 approved a resolution agreeing in principle with the effort to bring uniform medication, penalty, and testing rules to racing jurisdictions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Slideshow: Blood-Horse 2013 Impact Players

Twelve who are making a difference in the industry.

View Slideshow

MD Leading Mid-Atlantic Uniform Drug Reform

The Maryland Racing Commission voted Feb. 19 to adopt a uniform equine medication, penalty, and testing program proposed for Thoroughbred and Standardbred racetracks throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Is Mid-Atlantic 'Template' for Drug Reform?

Industry stakeholders, mostly from the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, met Feb. 6 in Delaware to examine equine medication policy in an attempt to bring about uniformity from state to state.

Maryland Groups Have 10-Year Deal for Racing

The key organizations in Maryland Thoroughbred racing announced Dec. 14 they have struck a 10-year-agreement for racing at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course.

Medication Reform Takes Step Toward Reality

With regulators and industry groups leading the charge, many horse racing stakeholders believe sweeping medication reform could become a reality in early 2013.

Maryland Tracks, Horsemen Given Deadline

Stalled on the cusp of a 10-year deal that could be the foundation for revitalizing the Maryland racing program, the state racing commission has issued a Nov. 30 deadline for the tracks and horsemen to reach a consensus.

Report: Deficiencies Had Role in Horse Deaths

A task force has determined the spate of fatal racehorse breakdowns at Aqueduct Racetrack this past winter was primarily the result of structural deficiencies in rules and regulations employed by NYRA and racing regulators.

Revised Drug Rules Have Provision for Salix

In a change designed to win support of its Reformed Racing Medication Rules, The Jockey Club has added a provision governing regulatory administration of furosemide on race day.

Maryland Racing Preparing for the Future

As the Maryland Jockey Club hosts its biggest day of racing this year -- the 137th Preakness Stakes (gr. I)--the state's horse industry is bracing for changes on the horizon that could redefine how racing is conducted.

Maryland THA Board Calls for Revote on Bylaws

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association said May 7 it will hold another vote on proposed changes to its bylaws after its general counsel found a "flaw" in a vote taken during a special election April 30.

Race-Day Drugs, Regulation Discussed by Panel

The racing industry is closer to uniformity in drug regulations and penalties than many admit, but agreement on race-day anti-bleeding drugs in a "toxic" environment will require some heavy lifting, officials said May 2.

MD Groups Commit to Discuss Long-Term Plan

Maryland racing industry officials already have scheduled their first meeting to devise a long-term strategy for live racing in the state beyond 2012.

Horsemen's Group at Parx Racing Rejoins THA

The Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, which represents horsemen at Parx Racing, is back under the umbrella of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the parties said Dec. 14.

No Dates in Maryland, But Talks Continue

Maryland racing interests still hope to avoid repeating a situation a year ago that left Laurel Park without 2011 racing dates just a week before the meet was scheduled to begin.

State Hopes to Resolve Maryland Dates Fight

The administration of Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is again trying to resolve a racing dates dispute one horsemen's representative said could "potentially get very ugly."

Salix Among RMTC Board Meeting's Topics

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) board of directors heard important updates from the organization's race day medication, drug testing initiative (DTI), and research committees during a meeting Oct. 6.

Officials Say Report Dispels Drug Criticism

Racing industry officials said a report that shows 99.5% of biological samples taken from racehorses and tested by laboratories in 2010 were "clean" dispels claims that horse racing is drug-ridden.

Ruling Could Affect Drug-Testing Regulations

A recent New York Supreme Court ruling invalidating that state's out-of-competition equine drug-testing could have implications in other jurisdictions and the Thoroughbred racing industry.

Groups Draw Line in the Sand on Salix Ban

Horsemen's groups largely support proposed changes in race-day medication rules but are drawing a line in the sand when it comes to the anti-bleeding drug Salix.

Efforts Under Way to Revive MATCH Series

Efforts are under way to revive the Mid-Atlantic Championships Series, known as MATCH, perhaps in 2012, the program's founder said.

Rosecroft Seeks License; No Simulcast Deal

Penn National Gaming Inc. has submitted an application to the Maryland Racing Commission to resume operations at shuttered Rosecroft Raceway June 1.

Horsemen: Put Brakes on Race-Day Salix Ban

The largest horsemen's groups in the country said they don't support a call by the Association of Racing Commissioners International for a five-year phase-out of race-day anti-bleeding medications.

MD Racing Makes Case for Shift in VLT Funds

The Maryland horse industry made its case March 15 for legislation that would shift gaming revenue from capital improvements to racetrack operations.

Stronach Wants Meeting With Maryland Horsemen

MI Developments chairman Frank Stronach has offered to meet with Maryland horsemen in the wake of a Maryland Racing Commission meeting at which MID and partner Penn National Gaming Inc. were criticized.

MD Industry's 2011 Legislative Plan Uncertain

The Maryland General Assembly convenes Jan. 12 for a session expected to include aid for horse racing, but action on the expansion of gambling is questionable.

Parameters of Maryland Agreement Discussed

The Maryland Jockey Club will receive more than $5 million for operations under the parameters of a negotiated agreement that will maintain a full 146-day live Thoroughbred racing schedule in the state.

Maryland Has 2011 Dates; Commission OKs Plan

Maryland racing interests and governor's office will announce later Dec. 22 that a deal has been reached to offer a full 146-day live racing schedule in the state.

Chaos, Mistrust in Maryland as Clock Ticks

A horsemen's representative acknowledged Dec. 21 there's still a little more than a week to get a racing schedule in place in Maryland for 2011, but he said chances are slim if the situation isn't resolved before Christmas.

Still No Live Racing Schedule in Maryland

There still is no live racing schedule for 2011 in Maryland after a Dec. 21 meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission.

MJC Plan Rejected; Laurel, Pimlico in Limbo

Racing in Maryland for 2011 is in limbo after the Maryland Racing Commission Nov. 29 rejected a plan submitted by the Maryland Jockey Club and also rejected owner MI Developments' plan to sell 49% of the tracks to PNGI.

Maryland Horsemen Fighting for Race Dates

With a Dec. 1 deadline on racing dates looming, Maryland horsemen are advocating a schedule similar to that of 2010 even though a shutdown of Laurel Park for live racing and training is on the table.

Officials Cite Progress Made in Drug Testing

Laboratories that test samples for the presence of drugs in California, Delaware, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other states have signed letters of intent to submit to accreditation.

Live Streaming for Jockey Club Round Table

For the first time, The Jockey Club will provide live video streaming of the Aug. 22 Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

NTRA: 'Punching Bag' or Valued Resource?

As the National Thoroughbred Racing Association prepares for its June 3 board of directors meeting in New York amid a changing landscape, the organization's biggest challenge could very well be industry perception.

RMTC Approves Fellowship Program Funding

Money will go to Dr. Heather DiMaio Knych and Dr. Mary Robinson for post-doctoral research.

Conference Attendees Discuss Drug Testing

Attorneys arguing about drug testing policies and procedures may differ in their opinions about the applications of such high-profile systems, but they agree that the landscape in which they work has changed.

Conflict Over Model Rule on Jockey Mount Fees

A controversial model rule that increases losing mount fees for jockeys generated lively debate Dec. 8 when both sides presented their case.

Can Public, Fans Understand Drug Testing?

The sensitivity of equine drug testing is a big plus for the racing industry, but it also has created confusion. How are the public and media supposed to understand when some industry participants can't make sense of it?

Drug Testing Task Force to Be Formed

Moving forward with its initiative to significantly change the structure of drug testing in U.S. horse racing, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) board of directors has approved the formation of a committee to oversee the implementation of the Drug Testing Initiative (DTI) Task Force recommendations on quality assurance and laboratory accreditation programs for U.S. horse racing drug testing laboratories.

Drug Testing, Prosecution Focus of Conference

A seminar focused on drug testing and the prosecution of a medication case will be the focus of the Racing Officials Accreditation Programfs second annual Officiating Horse Racing Conference at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Programfs Symposium on Racing and Gaming.

Possible Change in Drug Rules Questioned

The Association of Racing Commissioners International is looking at extending the cutoff time for use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in racehorses beyond 24 hours prior to a race, but horsemen's groups claim the action is premature.

Judge Denies Rosecroft Suit Over Simulcasts

A Maryland harness track July 15 was denied a temporary restraining order to force TrackNet Media Group and 15 other racetracks to provide it with Thoroughbred signals.

Confab: Does Penalty Always Fit Crime?

Chances are many more officials in the horse racing industry support uniform regulations a lot more than they support uniform penalties -- at least beyond a literal interpretation.

No Frills at Laurel Pending Slots Money

With revenue from slot machines probably a few years away, Thoroughbred racing in Maryland will continue in no-frills mode for the immediate future.