The Louisiana Racing Commission recently approved an emergency update to their controlled medication schedule for Thoroughbred racing by adding additional medications and changing allowable dosage and/or withdrawal times. The emergency rule, which was modified in part during an emergency public meeting held June 4, will reportedly take effect in Louisiana June 8.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has reviewed the LRC’s emergency rule (as modified during the public meeting June 4) and HISA’s veterinary team has determined that it poses significant risks to both equine welfare and the integrity of Thoroughbred racing. Some of the changes contemplated in the emergency rule contradict the weight of scientific evidence and long-established industry standards for medication controls. For example, the 50 nanogram per milliliter threshold for Flunixin requires a withdrawal time of just 24 hours, which can produce a systemic effect that would mask unsoundness and jeopardize the safety and welfare of the horse. Moreover, the emergency rule’s dosage specification for betamethasone deviates significantly from existing Association of Racing Commissioners International guidelines developed based on studies funded by the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium and others. These are only two of the serious concerns presented by the emergency rule.
Accordingly, effective June 9, and pursuant to HISA Rule 2240, all covered horses shipping to a racetrack under HISA jurisdiction from Louisiana must be placed on the HISA veterinarians’ list as medically compromised and unfit to race. This includes, but is not limited to, covered horses that:
- Shipped in directly from Louisiana.
- Since June 8, have performed a workout at a training facility or racetrack located in Louisiana.
- Since June 8, have competed in a race at a racetrack located in Louisiana.
Covered horses placed on the HISA veterinarians’ list in accordance with this memorandum shall remain on the veterinarians’ list until: (1) the covered horse performs a workout under the supervision of the regulatory veterinarian and demonstrates to the satisfaction of the regulatory veterinarian that the covered horse is sound to race; and (2) a blood sample is collected from the Covered Horse (at the owner’s expense) following the workout and the sample has been reported as negative.
HISA understands some of the horses covered by this memorandum will not be flagged until they have entered a race in your jurisdiction. These horses must be scratched unless they have already completed the requirements set forth in the preceding paragraph.
Upon leaving Louisiana, trainers may immediately initiate the vets’ list protocol set forth in this memorandum by notifying the regulatory veterinarian in the applicable jurisdiction who will then place the covered horse on the vets’ list.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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