The University of Florida Racing Laboratory has been selected to handle equine drug testing for Kentucky.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Gov. Steve Beshear has made new appointments to the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council, which advises the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on equine drug-testing and research.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has approved an innovative new wager between Churchill Downs and racetracks in other states.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council has adopted a recommended ban on anabolic steroids that is classified as the "toughest in the country" by the panel's chairman.
Friday, August 15, 2008
A subcommittee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has unanimously recommended that anabolic steroids be banned in horse racing in the state.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The complicated nature of regulating anabolic steroids in racehorses came to light May 20 when discussion among members of the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council and others seemed to indicate the easiest route is an all-out ban on the substances.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Gov. Steve Beshear named Rick Hiles as a replacement on the drug research council.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council supports the regulation of anabolic steroids in horses at racetracks and auctions in the state but has requested further explanation of withdrawal times and other testing-related issues included in the model rule offered by the Association of Racing Commissioners International and Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Implementation of a training stable that would produce samples for equine drug testing, and hiring of an equine medical director have the support of the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council, but both are hold for at least a few months.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
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.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, using funds from the state equine drug council, hopes to hire an equine medical director.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
In a meeting Oct. 9, the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council committed $1.5 million to fund a three-year program with the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium that will research and determine appropriate withdrawal guidelines for therapeutic medications commonly administered to racehorses in training.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council has allotted $1.5 million over three years to partner with the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium on a research project to determine withdrawal guidelines and threshold levels of therapeutic medications.
Monday, October 09, 2006
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council is devising a sweeping plan for security in barn areas at the state's racetracks, but it appears funding for an increase in manpower could be the major impediment.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council is recommending horsemen discontinue the use of naproxen at least five days before a horse is scheduled to run to avoid facing a penalty if the horse tests positive for the drug on race day.
Monday, April 03, 2006
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, acting on advice from the Equine Drug Research Council, unanimously approved medication withdrawal guidelines and threshold levels at a special meeting Feb. 10.
Friday, February 10, 2006
A debate over whether the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority has the power to fine violators of the state's new equine medication regulations has led the authority to seek clarification from the state legislature.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
In the wake of controversy concerning its new medication regulations, the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council has formed two standing sub-committees to oversee the next phase of integrating the new race-day medication regulations. The two new committees, which will report back to the council, are charged with developing medication withdrawal guidelines and better defining permissible medications.
Friday, September 30, 2005
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority is prepared to provide legislators with information regarding proposed changes in the state's race-day medication policy, but as of June 14 it hadn't received official word of the request.
Monday, June 13, 2005
The University of Kentucky has launched an initiative designed to ensure its programs are responsive to the needs of the horse industry in the state.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority delayed action May 16 on a hard-hitting, comprehensive schedule of penalties for medication violations--including ones designed to make racehorse owners and veterinarians more accountable.
Monday, May 16, 2005
A hard-hitting, comprehensive schedule of penalties for medication violations--including ones designed to make racehorse owners more accountable--is headed to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority for consideration at its May 16 meeting.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council is considering substantial penalties for drug violations in horse racing, including combinations of fines and suspensions, use of detention barns, and provisions for horses to be barred from racing for specific periods of time depending on the offense.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council voted Feb. 18 to recommend to the state's horse racing authority a set of guidelines for testing horses racing in the state for the practice known as "milkshaking." The horse racing authority will vote on the recommendations during its Feb. 22 meeting.
Friday, February 18, 2005
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council set in motion major changes in the state's medication and drug-testing policies when it voted Feb. 4 to recommend adoption of the model rules devised by the national Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.
Friday, February 04, 2005
The debate over equine medication and drug testing in Kentucky may be colored by very important questions: Is the medication policy currently in place in the Bluegrass state legitimate, and are all racing jurisdictions on the same page when it comes to national uniformity?
Friday, January 14, 2005
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council, which met Dec. 21 for the first time since the fall of 2003, has mostly new members and a new agenda that includes updated and cohesive regulations and perhaps major changes to the state's race-day medication policy for Thoroughbred racing.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council, which hasn't met since the fall of 2003, has been officially reconstituted. The council serves in an advisory capacity to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council, which hasn't met since last October, is being reconstituted under the administration of Gov. Ernie Fletcher and its new members will be announced soon, according to individuals close to the situation.
Friday, October 08, 2004
The Kentucky Horse Racing Association, at its next meeting Aug. 16, hopes to consider an upgraded drug-testing plan offered by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, at its next meeting Aug. 16, hopes to consider an upgraded drug-testing plan offered by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
Monday, July 26, 2004
Though the old Kentucky Racing Commission has been called "messy and sloppily run," with lax management and a disregard for standard business practices, the organization did nothing that calls for involvement by law enforcement agencies, according to an audit report released June 22.
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, currently studying its controversial helmet rule for jockeys, indicated May 17 it doesn't expect to have a resolution anytime soon.
Monday, May 17, 2004
The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority is moving forward with renewal of an equine drug-testing contract with Iowa State University pending review of the document by the state Finance Cabinet and assurances test results will be expedited.
Monday, April 19, 2004
The University of Kentucky's equine drug research program, funded by pari-mutuel handle under the auspices of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, apparently has been suspended indefinitely.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
Though the Kentucky Racing Commission has been abolished and replaced by the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council apparently remains in place--but not necessarily intact.
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council agreed in principal to allocate $350,000 for research to develop tests for presence of the drugs Inolin and Dizocilpine.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
The Kentucky Racing Commission has approved an agreement with the University of Kentucky for the college to apply for accreditation of its Animal Drug Testing Program and better monitor projects and control related costs.
Thursday, June 12, 2003