Louisiana racing commission meets on rules backlash Tuesday

Facing backlash after changing its rules regarding, among other things, the use of clenbuterol, the Louisiana State Racing Commission scheduled an emergency meeting for 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

Last month, the commission issued emergency rules that would allow up to 725 micrograms of clenbuterol, a steroid, with a withdrawal time of 72 hours. The rule was set to go into effect Saturday.

Louisiana is not covered by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Administration, which requires horses administered clenbuterol to be placed on the veterinarians’ list for at least 21 days. The horse must have negative clenbuterol results in both blood and urine samples to be removed from the vets’ list.

But the state generally has followed guidelines set by the Association of Racing Commissioners International, which require withdrawal time for clenbuterol of 14 days before a race.

The move, which would cause problems for horses shipped from Louisiana to other jurisdictions, was met with widespread opposition in the industry. Trainers and others weighed in, including Churchill Downs Inc., owner of Fair Grounds in New Orleans. A CDI spokesperson said the move was an “inexcusable abuse of process resulting in a substantial degradation in the safety and integrity of racing in the state.”

The meeting notice said clenbuterol would be on the agenda along with depo-medrol, an anti-inflammatory steroid.

In apparent recognition of the opposition to the rules changes, the third and final item on the agenda reads, “Safeguards will be in place during transition time for going back to increased withdrawal periods.”