The chairman of the Kentucky Racing Commission said Sept. 13 he hopes a revised race-day medication policy for the Bluegrass state becomes a model for the rest of the country as it pushes toward uniformity in racehorse medication and drug testing.
Friday, September 13, 2002Horsemen, veterinarians, racing officials, and regulators in Kentucky have been working behind the scenes to develop a new medication policy for the state that figures to greatly influence the debate over a uniform medication policy for the United States.
Thursday, September 12, 2002The Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering in August filed an administrative complaint against trainer Henry Collazo, alleging that a horse he ran at Calder Race Course tested positive for a derivative of morphine. The case has again put Florida's zero-tolerance policy under scrutiny.
Thursday, September 12, 2002Three trainers have been suspended and fined in New York for drug positives, two for lidocaine, a topical anesthetic that produced two positives in Kentucky earlier this year.
Tuesday, September 10, 2002As the Thoroughbred industry embarks on a national campaign to encourage more investment in racehorses, the chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has issued a plea for uniformity in medication to help the sport in a number of areas.
Sunday, August 18, 2002In the second round of "super tests" performed under the guidance of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force, there were no new positives for Class 1, 2, and 3 medications, according to a final report recently released. There were, however, 454 confirmations for therapeutic drugs.
Monday, July 22, 2002The Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission has issued an advisory that erythropoietin, or EPO, and other blood-doping substances and procedures are not permitted in the state.
Wednesday, July 03, 2002A July 2 panel discussion on racetrack medication and the "reality of perception" led to allegations of medication abuse, racing surfaces that damage horses, and a regulatory system that hinders progress.
Wednesday, July 03, 2002The California Horse Racing Board begins filming for two videos it hopes will take the mystery out of post-race testing while assuring fans and horsemen of the sport's integrity.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002The Kentucky Racing Commission said June 25 it would consider at its next meeting in September a motion to make the possession or use of erythropoietin, known as EPO, a prohibited practice.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002The Kentucky Racing Commission on June 25 upheld a hearing officer's recommendation that trainer William Deaton be suspended 150 days because one of his horses tested positive for Prozac this winter at Turfway Park.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002The Kentucky Racing Commission on June 25 will rule on an appeal of a 150-day suspension by trainer William Deaton concerning a positive test for Prozac in one of his horses at the Turfway Park meet earlier this year.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has formed a "working group" to develop a coordinated industry response for the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
Sunday, June 09, 2002Kent Stirling, executive director of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and Dr. Rick Arthur, a vice president of Oak Tree Racing Association, have been named to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force.
Monday, June 03, 2002Trainers Ben Cecil and Howard Zucker were slapped with fines by the California Horse Racing Board for positive drug tests produced from races at Del Mar last summer, it was announced May 30.
Friday, May 31, 2002The board of directors of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association has formally stated its "dissatisfaction" with current medication policies in the Bluegrass State.
Thursday, May 16, 2002As the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium continues its march toward uniformity in Thoroughbred racing, battle lines are being formed by other groups that believe a furosemide-only policy on race days is too extreme.
Thursday, May 09, 2002The newly christened Racing Medication and Testing Consortium said May 1 it has formed three task forces to focus on developing an organizational and business plan, scientific research priorities, and a model medication policy.
Wednesday, May 01, 2002Representatives of 15 Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, and Standardbred organizations will meet May 1 at a by-invitation-only meeting to implementation of recommendations on drug-testing, medication, security, and enforcement.
Wednesday, April 17, 2002While the Thoroughbred industry makes an aggressive push toward unification on the issue of drug testing and medication, two organizations involved in the regulation of racing -- the Association of Racing Commissioners International and the National Association of Pari-Mutuel Regulators -- continue to go their separate ways.
Tuesday, April 16, 2002The results of a survey of members of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association indicate that more than 90% favor the current medication policies in place in the Bluegrass State.
Wednesday, April 10, 2002Uniformity in equine drug-testing and medication use won't come easy if comments made by panelists at the University of Florida's Equine Medical Symposium are any indication. If anything, the March 15 discussion revealed splits within the racing industry and brought up the question as to whether medication is really the root of the industry's problems.
Friday, March 15, 2002As the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force prepared to release the results of round two of its super-testing program, the University of Florida appropriately kicked off its first Equine Medical Symposium March 14 with discussion on some therapeutic medications.
Thursday, March 14, 2002Jim Gallagher, executive director of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force, will leave the organization March 28 to take the position of vice president of pari-mutuel operations for the New York Racing Association.
Tuesday, March 12, 2002As the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force prepared for its March 12 meeting, some racetrack veterinarians moved closer to forming their own organization.
Monday, March 11, 2002Setting a national policy for racehorse medication is a vital step for the sport's long-term health, a top industry executive told the 2002 Harness Racing Congress in Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 20.
Wednesday, February 20, 2002The Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association is polling horsemen to get their opinions on the state's medication policies, which include a ban on all Class 1, 2, and 3 drugs within 48 hours of a race, and use of anti-inflammatory anti-bleeding medications on race day.
Friday, February 15, 2002A panel discussion on medication use and regulations in the pari-mutuel industry will be part of an equine medical symposium hosted by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine March 14-15 in Hollywood Beach, Fla.
Tuesday, February 12, 2002In the wake of a Jan. 28 teleconference to discuss plans for a national medication policy, organizers and the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association continue to negotiate on a representation issue.
Wednesday, January 30, 2002Representatives from about 20 industry organizations unanimously endorsed a plan to develop a national medication policy during a teleconference Jan. 28. The action followed the first Racehorse Medication Summit, held Dec. 4, 2001, in Tucson, Ariz.
Tuesday, January 29, 2002The board of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, during its winter convention in Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 22-24, passed two motions tied to medication issues: One calls for more representation in follow-up meetings to the Racehorse Medication Summit, while the other seeks official positions from affiliates on use of race-day therapeutic medication.
Thursday, January 24, 2002By John W. Russell -- Too many medication cases in California have been overturned or dismissed after months of contentious hearings. Stewards and the Racing Board have claimed they are bound by the inflexibility of the absolute insurer rule. But that will change.
Saturday, December 22, 2001The official report on the Dec. 4 Racehorse Medication Summit organized by the American Association of Equine Practitioners could be released Jan. 4. The document is expected to provide information on consensus reached by the more than 30 industry officials who participated.
Thursday, December 20, 2001Kentucky's Equine Drug Council has identified research into furosemide (Salix) use and quantification as the top priority for 2002, but the council on Wednesday decided proposed research projects and its budget for next year required further review.
Wednesday, December 19, 2001California is on board with a nationwide push for a consensus on racehorse medication, the president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California reported to his board the week of Dec. 10. But the TOC does have its own opinions on some of the specifics.
Tuesday, December 18, 2001A Kentucky Equine Drug Council committee has recommended that Iowa State University handle equine drug testing in Kentucky beginning Jan. 1, 2002. The Kentucky Racing Commission will vote on the recommendation at a meeting Dec. 19 in Lexington.
Friday, December 14, 2001The second round of "super-test" results from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force should be released early in January, said Jim Gallagher, executive director of the task force.
Friday, December 14, 2001The racing industry's quest for uniformity in medication and drug testing continued Wednesday with a lively panel discussion on the issue at the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing in Tucson. Meanwhile, the jury is out as to whether there will be considerable change in Kentucky, a major racing state where officials appear split on the issue.
Wednesday, December 05, 2001Participants at Tuesday's Racehorse Medication Summit in Tucson, Ariz., reached a consensus on medication, drug-testing, security, and enforcement, but said much of any future policy depends on scientific determinations. The group of about 30 industry officials did agree on the need for a uniform medication policy and decision levels for therapeutic medications, but specifics weren't discussed.
Tuesday, December 04, 2001The Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has taken issue with the conduct of the state's Equine Drug Council and has asked the Kentucky Racing Commission to make sure the council complies with regulations.
Tuesday, November 27, 2001The Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association on Nov. 27 issued a list of recommendations that call for a restructuring of medication use and drug testing procedures in horse racing. Among them are formation of a non-profit consortium that would be funded via a per-start fee for every Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and Quarter Horse.
Tuesday, November 27, 2001California Horse Racing Board officials are refusing to discuss a federal judge's decision to dismiss the board's case against trainer Bob Baffert in regard to a positive test for morphine in one of his horses last year.
Wednesday, November 21, 2001The New South Wales Racing Laboratory has developed a test to detect the drug erythropoietin, commonly known as EPO, in racehorses, according to release on the Racing New South Wales Web site. The medication is considered a performance-enhancer.
Wednesday, October 31, 2001Veterinarians have asked the Kentucky Racing Commission to consider changes in regulations that govern use of naso-gastric tubes and the administration of Salix, the diuretic formerly known as Lasix. The practitioners, a few of whom spoke during a commission meeting Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs, said they want to protect the health of horses as well as their ability to do their jobs.
Tuesday, October 30, 2001Officials with the American Association of Equine Practitioners acknowledge that their "Racehorse Medication Summit" planned for Dec. 4 appears to have moved some organizations to action. But they admit the complex issue of medication and drug-testing can't be addressed in one day.
Thursday, October 25, 2001The Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association hopes to release a sweeping national medication and drug-testing proposal either before or during the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing, which begins Dec. 4. It would become the second major horsemen's group to issue a medication proposal this fall.
Thursday, October 18, 2001In a proactive measure, the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association issued a proposal for national drug-testing and therapeutic medication policies for substances known to affect the performance of racehorses. The organization hopes to generate dialogue in the industry before the American Association of Equine Practitioners' medication summit Dec. 4 in Arizona.
Thursday, October 18, 2001The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has put together its own guidelines for national drug-testing and will unveil the model Thursday morning during a press conference at Keeneland.
Tuesday, October 16, 2001The National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force will attempt to break down barriers that separate breeds in an attempt to shore up drug-testing procedures in horse racing.
Saturday, October 13, 2001National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup officials said Thursday the new "Great State Challenge" program has the potential to open up many new sponsorship opportunities for horse racing. The program, which will feature the top state-breds in the country, will be held sometime in the last three months of 2002.
Thursday, October 11, 2001