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Demystifying Medications Part II (Video)

In part II of this series, correspondent Natalie Voss discusses the Corticosteroids and Procaine Penicillin with Dr. Peter Morresey of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and trainer Dale Romans.

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Demystifying Medications Part 1 (Video)

In a 3-part series, correspondent Natalie Voss discusses the importance and limitations of therapeutic medications with Dr. Peter Morresey of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and trainer Dale Romans.

Watch Video

RCI President Calls for Olympics Drug List

The president of the Association of Racing Commissioners International is calling upon the Olympic Games to release the names of athletes who will be performing in London with performing-enhancing drugs in their systems.

Trainer O'Neill to Serve 45-Day Suspension

Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill said he will drop his appeal of a 45-day suspension in California stemming from a carbon dioxide overage in one of his horses in 2010 and will serve the suspension Aug. 19-Sept. 27.

Breeders' Cup Revises Medication Policy

The Breeders' Cup has revised its "Convicted Trainer Rule" and will impose a minimum one-year suspension from the World Championships on any trainer with a Class 2, Category A, violation during the preceding 12 months.

New York Revises Bute Administration Rule

New York is returning to a standard banning the use of phenylbutazone in horses in the 48 hours leading up to a race. The state Racing and Wagering Board on Feb. 29 adopted a final rule revising the Bute time and threshold.

Trainers: Do Not Ban Anti-Bleeder Medications

Saying they support efforts to limit race-day medications, two prominent Thoroughbred trainers said they hope the initiatives do not go so far as to ban use of the anti-bleeder drug known as Salix.

The Jockey Club Supports RCI Medication Plan

Ogden Mills Phipps, the chairman of The Jockey Club, said April 11 the organization supports the recent Association of Racing Commissioners International initiative to formulate a plan that would eliminate race day medication

Breeders' Cup Considers Tougher Drug Policy

The Breeders' Cup board of directors will consider strengthening its policies to include a ban on any trainer who has been penalized for having a horse test positive for a Class 1 or Class 2 drug within the past 12 months.

NYRA to Freeze Samples Pending Development of New Tests

The Cornell University equine testing lab will now freeze urine samples for use as new tests for performance enhancing substances are developed.

Stewards Clear, But Warn, Dutrow Over Scratches

Aqueduct's leading trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. was warned and cleared during a Friday meeting with stewards to discuss the circumstances that caused him to scratch all four of his runners off last Sunday's program.

Dutrow to Meet With Stewards Over 'Medication Error'

Aqueduct's leading trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. is facing a hearing with stewards this week after calling in early Sunday to scratch all four of his runners off the afternoon program.

Three Valleys Positive Confirmed: DQ Likely

Three Valleys , winner of the Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I) at Newmarket, England, will almost definitely lose the six-furlong race after the British Jockey Club confirmed that the 2-year-old has failed a post-race drug test.

Break the Habit

By Barry Irwin -- A medication policy for horse racing of hay, oats, and water would place everybody on a level playing field. It would save the expense-plagued owner thousands of dollars every year on every horse in the barn.

Fueling the Fire

By Ray Paulick -- For a change, let's all accept the winner of this year's Kentucky Derby as the best horse. Period.

Text of Racehorse Medication Summit Report

The attached list of racing organizations and officials were invited to attend a one-day workshop for the purpose of determining if agreement could be reached as to the need for a uniform policy for racehorse medication in the United States, and if so, where agreement can be reached on elements of such a policy. The workshop consisted of two segments: a two-hour open session briefing by experts on topics pertinent to the purpose of the Summit, and an intensive seven-hour workshop for the invited representatives which was conducted by a professional facilitator from outside the racing industry.

AAEP Prepared for Medication Summit

The American Association of Equine Practitioners has spent many hours over the past year getting ready for the Dec. 4 medication summit that will be part of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program's Symposium on Racing. "We hope for the first time to bring together key stakeholders in the racing industry to specifically discuss racehorse medication," said Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, 2001 president of the AAEP.

New York Board Forms Medication Advisory Panel

Following the lead of other states, New York racing officials have formed an advisory panel to bolster efforts to track new developments in legal and illegal drugs used in the thoroughbred industry. "There's no agenda going into this,'' said Racing and Wagering Board chairman Michael Hoblock, who announced the creation of the Medication Advisory Committee Thursday. He said the idea of such a panel came out of meetings over the past several years the racing board has held with the New York Racing Association's organization of horsemen.

New York Suspends Trainer Dowd, Fines Owner Perez

New York racing regulators on Monday slapped trainer John Dowd with a 120-day suspension after three Thoroughbreds he ran during races in 1999 and 2000 at Aqueduct tested positive for ergonovine. In another disciplinary matter, Thoroughbred owner Robert Perez was fined $3,000 following what officials described as a nasty confrontation with stewards last year at Saratoga in an incident the board said was "detrimental to the best interests of racing.''

Trainer Passero, Florida Reach Agreement on Positive

Attorneys for the State of Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering and trainer Frank Passero reached a settlement in the matter of a positive drug test on a Passero runner. In an administrative complaint filed last March, the Division alleged that a urine test on Hope In Private following his win Gulfstream's fifth race on Feb. 13, 2000 was found to contain Benzoylecgonine and Ecgonine Methyl Ester, both of which are metabolites of cocaine.