Grants Available for Out-of-Competition Tests

Blood-Horse

With the large concentration of graded stakes scheduled for spring and summer, The Jockey Club is reminding regulatory authorities and racetracks that it has budgeted another $250,000 in grants for out-of-competition testing to supplement the efforts of racetracks.

The Jockey Club said the funding is designed to encourage more out-of-competition testing for the presence of blood-doping agents as well as substances classified as Class 1 by the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

Racetracks in California, Florida, Kentucky, New York, and the province of Ontario (Woodbine) participated in the program in 2014.

Gulfstream Park was the first racetrack to use the graded stakes out-of-competition testing grant fund, which was announced at The Jockey Club Round Table Conference in August 2013. At that time, The Jockey Club committed to out-of-competition funding of $250,000 for both 2014 and 2015. Read story

“Out-of-competition testing has become standard operating procedure for a growing number of amateur and professional sports, and we can further ensure the integrity of Thoroughbred racing by following their example,” said James Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “We were pleased to see several groups use The Jockey Club funding to enhance their respective drug-testing programs last year, and we expect more of them to do so in 2015.”

A Thoroughbred racetrack’s participation in the graded stakes out-of-competition testing grant fund is voluntary. Thoroughbred racetracks that elect to participate in the fund may receive reimbursement to defray some of the costs associated with out-of-competition testing subject to certain criteria.

The graded stakes that are available for out-of-competition funding from The Jockey Club are those scheduled for March 28 or later.

To be eligible for reimbursement from the grant fund:

—Tests should be conducted on samples collected from nominees to graded stakes no closer than seven days before the race.

—Racetracks may apply for reimbursement upon written request to The Jockey Club that includes invoices and other supporting documentation for the charges.

—In addition, all requests for reimbursement must include the following information:

a. The graded stakes the grant fund was used to test

b. The number of horses sampled

c. The number of horses sampled that started in the graded stakes

Racetracks interested in participating in the graded stakes out-of-competition testing grant fund in 2015 should contact The Jockey Club for more information.

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