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What's Going On Here: Clarity and Cooperation

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CHRB: No Spike in Sudden Deaths

Officials with the California Horse Racing Board vigorously contested reports that the state has seen any spike or even a significant increase in the number of sudden death cases statewide.

Bloodhorse.com Presents EHV-1 Live Q&A

BloodHorse.com will air "Equine Herpesvirus-1 LIVE Q&A" March 14 at 2 p.m. EDT in response to recent cases, including an outbreak at Hawthorne Racecourse and a confirmed fatal case at Santa Anita Park.

Gagliano: Reformed Rules Help Integrity

Here is the text of a "position paper" released by James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club as part of that organization's campaign for medication reform.

For Regulators, Salix Debate Just Beginning

Regulators around the country are examining the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's move to phase out race-day furosemide in graded and listed stakes beginning in 2014, but there doesn't appear to be a rush to follow suit.

Vets See Progress in Equine Health, Safety

Veterinarians said the racing industry is making significant progress in identifying causes for equine injuries, and they urged patience despite persistent negative public perception in regard to racehorse breakdowns.

Santa Anita 'Feeling Way' With New Surface

There has been one racing fatality following a breakdown in the first eight days of competition on Santa Anita Park's new dirt track, according to the California Horse Racing Board equine medical director.

RMTC Makes Withdrawal Time Recommendations

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium board of directors has recommended withdrawal guidelines and plasma thresholds for a bronchodilator, a muscle relaxant, and four anabolic steroids.

Bute Not in Racing's Best Interest

What do NSAIDs do? They hide pain and reduce inflammation. By Dr. Rick Arthur

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New Bute Threshold to Be Considered

A recommendation to lower the recommended threshold for phenylbutazone will be considered by the Model Rules Committee of the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

Welfare and Safety Summit Announces Agenda

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's summit to be held at the Keeneland sale pavilion June 28-29; will be streamed live on Keeneland's website.

Drug Uniformity Remains Somewhat Elusive

Though studies have been completed to determine threshold levels for almost 20 therapeutic medications, it doesn't mean the industry will know for certain whether the drugs can impact equine performance.

All BC Equine Drug Tests Come Back Clean

Officials said all blood and urine samples collected from horses that competed in the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park have come back clean.

The Pamplemousse Scratched from SA Derby

Morning line favorite The Pamplemousse was scratched from the Santa Anita Derby early on the morning of the race by trainer Julio Canani after a state veterinarian check turned up a possible physical problem that needed further examination.

Equine Welfare Heads Round Table Agenda

The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Safety Committee, which in June issued its initial recommendations calling for the elimination of anabolic steroids in training and racing, a ban on toe grabs, and a series of whip-related reforms, will provide an update on its activities and announce additional recommendations Aug. 17 at The Jockey Club Round Table in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Jockey Club Launches Injury Database

The Jockey Club has launched the Equine Injury Database system that will provide the racing industry with its first national database of racing injuries. The Equine Injury Database grew out of a proposal first put forth at the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit in Lexington in October 2006.

CHRB Seeks Comments on Steroids Rules

The California Horse Racing Board will vote in July on regulatory changes that would result in stricter penalties for anabolic steroids violations, and is soliciting public comment prior to a July 17 hearing at Del Mar.

RMTC Strives for Uniform Drug Testing

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium sponsored an equine racing chemist workshop to foster uniformity in drug testing of the androgenic anabolic steroids from April 27-30 at the University of California at Davis.

Regulation of Steroids Turns a Corner

The ongoing process of regulating anabolic steroids in racehorses may have turned a corner March 25 when the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium made changes to its model rule. State regulators, however, remain concerned about funding for increased testing.

Commentary: Adjusting the Focus

By Dr. Scott Stanley and Dr. Rick Arthur - Horse racing was ahead of other sports in implementing a drug-testing program, and in many ways we are still the pace­setters. We cast a broader net for more drugs than any other sport.

RMTC Approves Sending Model Rules to RCI

The board of directors of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) passed a model rule on anabolic steroids that will be forwarded to the Association of Racing Commissioners International (RCI) for approval during the RCI Annual Convention April 23-27. After the RMTC receives input from the RCI, the model rule language will be released to the industry.

CHRB Moves Ahead With Stricter Drug Regulations

The California Horse Racing Board has moved forward with its revised equine drug regulations and tougher penalties for offenders.

CHRB Committee to Tackle Medication Regulations

The California Horse Racing Board Medication Committee will consider major changes to the state's medication rules and penalties during a meeting Jan. 9 at Santa Anita Park.

Regulation, Reclassification of Steroids Looming

Racing officials Dec. 7 confirmed a push for regulation of anabolic steroids, and also said the therapeutic substances could be upgraded to Class 3 under Association of Racing Commissioners International guidelines by April 2007.

Welfare Summit Opens With Scientific Data, Frank Discussions

The public session that opened the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit Monday in Lexington didn't provide just food for thought. The speakers and panelists served up a huge banquet of data, ideas, anecdotes, and opinions while kicking off the two-day event.

CHRB Dismisses Six-Year-Old Morphine Charges Against Frankel

The California Horse Racing Board has dismissed a pair of six-year-old complaints against trainer Bobby Frankel concerning morphine positives in post-race urine samples taken from his trainees Starmaniac and Mojave Moon in 2000.

CHRB Looks at Safety, Out-of-Competition Testing

The California Horse Racing Board is studying ways to promote the health of racehorses and reduce on-track injuries, as well as implement a plan for out-of-competition testing.

RMTC Works on Steroids Policy, Withdrawal Times

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium plans to recommend a model policy on anabolic steroids later this year and also has approved a plan to establish model policies for withdrawal times for therapeutic drugs used in racehorses.

Arthur Named CHRB Medical Director; Will Give Up Private Practice

Dr. Rick Arthur has been named equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board and will advise the board on all matters relating to equine health and welfare and drug testing.

Norman Named in Crosby 'Milkshake' Case

Louisiana-based Cole Norman has been identified as the trainer responsible for a "milkshaking" incident in California that occurred July 31 at Del Mar.

Vet Outlines Santa Anita 'Milkshake' Program

The veterinarian in charge of the committee that oversees Santa Anita Park's milkshake testing program said he has nothing to do with the process and is only involved when notified that a trainer's horse has exceeded the acceptable level of total carbon dioxide in its blood.

Shock Wave Therapy Gets CHRB Examination

The possibility that trainers may be covertly sneaking horses off backstretches for shock wave therapy has raised the concern of the California Horse Racing Board.

Tougher Drug Sanctions Coming in California?

Encouraged by Santa Anita's recent success uncovering excessive levels of sodium bicarbonate, the California Horse Racing Board's medication committee Wednesday tackled a wide range of other complicated issues with an eye to future technology and tougher penalities.

Mullins Denies 'Milkshake' Wrongdoing; Cerin Also Cited

Trainer Jeff Mullins said Friday that Puppeteer, found to have an excessive level of bicarbonate in his bloodstream following his second-place finish in the Jan. 22 San Marcos Handicap (gr. IIT), was subject to an accidental contamination of alkalizing agents.

Stakes Grades to be Tied to Drug-Testing Plan

The American Graded Stakes Committee will begin implementing a drug-testing plan for horses participating in its designated races beginning at Keeneland and Belmont Park this fall. It expects to have the testing protocol fully in place by the end of 2004.

Official: Uniform Drug Policy Three to Five Years Away

Uniformity in medication and drug testing could be years away, a member of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium said April 1 during a California Horse Racing Board Medication Committee meeting.

Steve Haskin's Classic Story: All-American Win

It was happening all over again. America was a heartbeat away from being conquered in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). This time, however, a defeat would have been an ignominious end to the 2001 World Thoroughbred Championships.

With Ailing Back, Tiznow's Future Still in Doubt

A persistent back ailment has raised doubts about the future of 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow.