BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Delaware Gets 100 Days; No Deal With Horsemen

Delaware Park was awarded 100 days of live Thoroughbred racing for 2012, but the track has no contract with the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association for the meet.

And They're Off: Eclipse Awards Edition

Lenny and Steve review the Eclipse Award ceremony and the winners, Lasix, and more. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm

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Furosemide 'Myths' Discussed at Convention

Panelists gathered for a Jan. 14 National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association forum said there is no scientific evidence supporting a ban on the use of furosemide on race day.

Dutrow Horse DQ'd From Stakes Win

A horse trained by Rick Dutrow Jr. has been disqualified from a stakes victory at Laurel Park because he was administrated Salix within two hours of the race, a violation of Maryland racing rules.

Furosemide Among National HBPA Topics

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association will tackle several issues, including governmental affairs, high volume pari-mutuel bettors, and use of furosemide on race day during its convention Jan. 12-16.

Model Rule on Salix Administration Adopted

The Association of Racing Commissioners International Model Rules Committee has adopted protocol that prohibits private veterinarians from administering furosemide on race day.

KY Meeting Shows Deep Divide Over Salix Use

If testimony taken Nov. 14 in Kentucky, a major breeding and racing state, is any indication, the battle over use of furosemide on race day doesn't figure to end any time soon.

Race-Day Medication Pros and Cons Debated

The pros and cons of race-day medication in racehorses were debated Nov. 14 during a lengthy meeting of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Race Day Medication Committee at the state Capitol.

Race-Day Drugs Focus of Kentucky Meeting

A Kentucky Horse Racing Commission committee will hold what could be a six- to seven-hour meeting on race-day medication Nov. 14 in Frankfort, the state capital.

Salix Among RMTC Board Meeting's Topics

The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) board of directors heard important updates from the organization's race day medication, drug testing initiative (DTI), and research committees during a meeting Oct. 6.

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.

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.

And They're Off: Dog Days Edition

Lenny and Kenny Rice of NBC Sports review breaking news, the Saratoga race meet, Del Mar Exes race, Race Medication and Leftylenythelegend.

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'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.

No Salix in Graded Stakes for 2YOs in 2012

The American Graded Stakes Committee said Aug. 10 it will employ a pilot program that will ban race-day medications -- primarily the anti-bleeding drug Salix -- in graded 2-year-old stakes in 2012.

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.

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.

Rip Off the Medication Band-Aid

Let's put all U.S. racing on par with the rest of the world.

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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.

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.

Study: EIPH is an Inherited Trait

A South African study showed a strong heritability between some stallions and exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhaging, also known as bleeding.

Summit Digs Into Salix Use, Regulation

A well-attended summit June 13 at Belmont Park shed a lot of light on the research and international regulations surrounding the race-day medication Salix.

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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Race-Day Medication Summit at Belmont Park

The first international summit on race-day medication as it relates to exercise-induced pulmonary hemorhaging will be June 13-14 at Belmont Park.

Jockey Club Strongly Urges Drug-Free Racing

Jockey Club president James Gagliano reiterates call for ban on race-day medications.

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.

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.

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.

Horsemen, Chemist: Drug Problem Exaggerated

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said July 1 it plans to be more involved as the racing industry considers medication and drug-testing policies horsemen believe could be detrimental and counterproductive.

New Targets for Medication Regulation

Though most racing jurisdictions in North America have greatly curtailed the use of race-day medication, two drugs commonly used in racehorses are getting a hard look from industry officials.

Louisiana Latest to Adopt Steroids Rule

Using emergency regulations, the Louisiana Racing Commission has banned the use of anabolic steroids in racehorses effective Jan. 1, 2009.

Commentary: Culture Change

By Bobby Trussell - Fifty years ago, the average number of lifetime starts per runner was more than 40. Now, shockingly, it is less than 14. Why? What has changed so much?

Drug Test Results Questioned in Kentucky

The results of post-race blood tests in five horses that raced at Keeneland or Churchill Downs have raised some red flags in Kentucky.

Ex-Associate Steward Contradicts Fermin in Intercontinental Case

In a March 15 declaration given under penalty of perjury, a former California associate steward stated the director of Del Mar security said he forwarded information about the mare Intercontinental getting a late Salix shot to the board of stewards, California Horse Racing Board investigators, and CHRB executive director Ingrid Fermin well before the running of the Palomar Handicap (gr. II) last Sept. 3.

Indiana Adopts Rules for Raceday Security Crackdown

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission has adopted 21 emergency regulations that make up a sweeping integrity initiative for horse racing in the state.

Race-Day Reckoning

By Ray Paulick - When will regulators or racetrack executives follow the lead of Woodbine in Canada and the New York Racing Association and stop allowing private practitioners to treat horses on the day of a race?

New York Alters Race-Day Medication Regulations

New York regulators have altered the state's equine medication rules to bring them more in compliance with other states, but they have refused to join states that permit administration of more race-day drugs.

New Ky. Medication Regulations Have 60-Day Transition Period

Kentucky horsemen will have a 60-day transition period to adjust to the state's newly approved equine medication laws, which take effect Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Model Rules Making Progress Across Country

Scot Waterman, executive director of the national Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, said the group has made significant progress the last year in getting racing jurisdictions to adopt its chapter on medication and model rules, a uniform set of medication and drug-testing policies.

Time to Unite

By Gary Biszantz - As chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association I feel an obligation to encourage all horsemen to unite and support uniform medication rules for the United States.

Ohio OKs Model Rules, Taps Purses for Tests

The Ohio State Racing Commission tightened its medication rules Jan. 20 to greatly reflect the model rules offered by the national Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. In another change, money will be deducted from each purse to defray all or part of the cost to test blood and urine samples.

Lobbying for Proposed National Drug Policy Continues

Three months after national regulators' associations approved model rules for a proposed national medication policy, the task of lobbying jurisdictions to adopt them continues.

As a Preventive Measure, Smarty Jones Will Run on Salix

Citing the fate that befell Demons Begone in 1987, trainer John Servis said Smarty Jones will be administered the anti-bleeder medication Salix for the first time when the undefeated colt runs in the May 1 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Regulators Set to Consider Proposed Medication Rules

Officials gathered in New Orleans for the first Joint Conference of Racing Regulators will consider a proposed national medication policy that calls for voluntary use of Salix on race days and use of one of three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs no later than 24 hours before a race.

AAEP Requests Proposals for Bleeder Medication Research

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) is seeking proposals to research the efficacy of adjunct bleeder medications, such as aminocaproic acid and/or conjugated estrogens, as a race day medication for prevention of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH).

Drug Policy: Room for More--With Scientific Evidence

Regulators in the United States will get their first look at a proposed national medication and drug-testing policy Dec. 10, but even if it wins widespread support, it could take some time before any changes are enacted in various jurisdictions.