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Approval of Bute Rule Slowed in Louisiana

A Louisiana Senate committee rejected an emergency rule approved by the Louisiana State Racing Commission to lower the testing threshold level for phenylbutazone from 5 micrograms per milliliter to 2 micrograms.

Strawbridge Urges Strong Medication Reform

Prominent George Strawbridge Jr. said the U.S. needs more strict enforcement and tougher penalties for medication use in racehorses.

New York Legislation Calls for Salix Ban

A New York lawmaker said Sept. 13 he will introduce legislation banning use of "performance-enhancing drugs" such as the anti-bleeding medication furosemide, or Salix.

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.

Waterman Named Arizona Racing Adviser

Dr. Scot Waterman, most recently executive director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, has been hired as the first animal medication and welfare adviser for the Arizona Department of Racing.

Blog: Protecting the Brand - by Eric Mitchell

Having horses running on drugs is not sitting well with our fans

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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.

NY Judge Rejects Certain Drug-Testing Rules

An acting New York State Supreme Court judge has ruled the New York Racing and Wagering Board regulations on out-of-competition testing "require nullification in their entirety."

'Medication-Free' Horse Racing Called Goal

The Jockey Club has reiterated its calls for a phased-in ban on the anti-bleeding medication Salix but made clear Aug. 14 it wants "medication-free" horse racing.

RMTC: Tighten Salix Rules, Ban Adjunct Drugs

An industry consortium supports administration of Salix by regulatory veterinarians only and a ban on adjunct bleeder drugs, but will continue to study a pilot program proposal to ban the use of race-day Salix in 2-year-olds.

Review Begins of Kentucky Medication Regs

Two panels of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission have begun the lengthy--and potentially contentious--process of reviewing and revising the state's medication regulations.

National HBPA: Keep Salix, Drop Adjunct Drugs

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said July 24 it supports elimination of race-day medication use with the exception of the anti-bleeding drug Salix.

RCI Panel: Class 1 Rank for Designer Drugs

The Association of Racing Commissioners International board of directors July 27 will consider a committee recommendation to categorize three designer drugs a Class 1--the most serious in racehorses.

Florida Salix Plan Called 'Terrible Mistake'

Gulfstream Park has not set a timetable for possible future contact with Florida racing regulators on chairman Frank Stronach's goal of phasing out use of legal race-day medications such as the anti-bleeding drug Salix.

Regulators to Discuss Race-Day Medication

An Association of Racing Commissioners International committee will meet July 26 to hear opinions and testimony on use of race-day medication in racehorses.

RMTC Sets Meeting to Discuss Race-Day Drugs

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium will, among other things, discuss proposals to phase out race-day medication use during its next meeting Aug. 4.

Medication Summit Called 'New Beginning'

A baby step toward progress was how organizers described the two-day International Race Day Medication Summit held June 13-14 at Belmont Park.

Education Early Focus of Medication Summit

Education was the primary mission of the June 13 International Summit on Race Day Medication, EIPH and the Racehorse held at Belmont Park in New York.

The Battle of Salix - By Eric Mitchell

The medication summit will shed plenty of light on how the U.S. can 
improve its policies.

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KY Drug Council Involved in Race-Day Issue

The Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council, citing its statutory mission, will be involved in the debate over race-day medication, officials said May 25.

CANTER: Federal Drug Bill Needs Fine-Tuning

CANTER, a major placement program for retired Thoroughbred racehorses, said it supports in concept federal legislation calling for a ban on performance-enhancing drugs in racing but believes the language may be too broad.

Drug Summit Set for June 13-14 in New York

The first 'International Summit on Race Day Medication, EIPH and the Racehorse' has been scheduled for June 13-14 in New York City.

AAEP Urges Caution on Federal Drug Bill

The American Association of Equine Practitioners has expressed concern with "very broad language" in federal legislation geared toward use of performance-enhancing drugs in racehorses.

Trio of Owners Lobbying for Federal Drug Ban

A trio of owners are lobbying for a federal ban of race-day drug use.

Equine Drug Bill Introduced by Congressmen

Two members of Congress introduced legislation May 4 authorizing penalties for those caught using performance-enhancing drugs in racehorses.

It's Time to Draw the Line

U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) discuss medication.

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Feds May Step In on Race-Day Drug Use

A proposed federal bill would create a three-strikes-you're-out penalty system for anyone found guilty of racing a horse under the influence of a performance-enhancing drug.

Officials Confirm International Drug Summit

As expected the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium board of directors said April 20 it will join the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and American Association of Equine Practitioners in organizing a drug summit.

Keeneland: Use 'Pragmatic Approach' on Drugs

Keeneland said April 20 it supports "a pragmatic approach" in efforts that could lead to racing being conducted medication-free.

International Drug Summit Said to Be Planned

Industry organizations including the National Thoroughbred Racing Association will propose an international summit on equine medication this year in the wake of calls for the race-day ban of anti-bleeding drugs.

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.

TRA Supports Concept of Medication Ban

The racetrack association supports a realistic and practical approach to a proposal to ban all race-day medication in racehorses within five years.

TOBA Latest Group to Support Medication Ban

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association said April 14 it supports the recent proposal by the Association of Racing Commissioners International to develop a plan to eliminate the use of race-day medication.

Ludt New BC Chair; Support for Medication Ban

The Breeders' Cup board of directors, with Tom Ludt as its new chairman, will form a sub-committee to develop a plan to eliminate use of race-day medication--Salix and other anti-bleeding drugs--in the World Championships

Sources: Waterman Leaving Post at RMTC

Dr. Scot Waterman, executive director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium for almost 10 years, is leaving the post at the end of April, according to multiple industry sources.

KTA Supports, NTRA Discusses, Drug Phase-Out

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, which operate as one entity, issued a statement April 12 saying it supports a call by RCI to phase out race-day medication.

New WV Rules of Racing Take Effect July 10

An overhaul of the West Virginia rules of racing, including revisions in the area of equine medication and penalties, has passed the state legislature. The document was filed April 11 with the Secretary of State.

RCI: Phase Out Use of Drugs in Five Years

In an announcement that could meet with disagreement with some horsemen's groups and perhaps others, the Association of Racing Commissioners International has called for a five-year phase-out of equine medication in racing.

'McKinsey' Drug Report Revisited by Horsemen

As McKinsey & Company prepares for The Jockey Club a broad report on Thoroughbred racing, a horsemen's group has reviewed a medication study the company authored 20 years ago.

Proposed WV Rules Include Pre-Race Exams

The West Virginia Senate Feb. 25 passed an overhaul of the state's horse racing regulations, which include mandatory pre-race veterinary exams for horses.

Sound Advice - By Dr. Christine Orman

You can determine the 
post-career fate of a horse from day one of his
 racing career.

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RCI Board Votes to Lower Bute Threshold

The Association of Racing Commissioners International board of directors voted Oct. 22 to lower the threshold level for phenylbutazone from five micrograms per milliliter of plasma or serum to two.

Give Bute the Boot - By Eric Mitchell

Few issues in horse racing fire up people's emotions like medication. A couple of years ago the target was anabolic steroids, and the industry reacted quickly.

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Upset Lingers Over Proposed Bute Regulation

The largest horsemen's group in the country continues to call for the racing industry to perform thorough research before it continues with its plan to lower the testing threshold for phenylbutazone.

KY Panel Approves Out-of-Competition Testing

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, operating on a tight schedule, approved a regulation Sept. 7 governing out-of-competition equine drug testing with plans to have it in place in advance of the Nov. 5-6 Breeders' Cup.

KHRC Pledges to Consider Input on Testing

Kentucky Horse Racing Commission officials acknowledged concerns about aspects of the proposed out-of-competition testing of racehorses and pledged Aug. 25 to consider the input before the regulations are approved.

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.

Out-of-Competition Testing Meetings Set in KY

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has scheduled two informational sessions on proposed regulations for out-of-competition testing.

Kentucky Drug-Test Upgrade Needed for BC

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission hopes to expedite regulations for out-of-competition testing and have them in place in time for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs.

Penn Trainer Charged After Grand Jury Probe

A Pennsylvania horse trainer was charged July 28 with trying to rig races at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course by injecting horses with performance-enhancing drugs.