Ohio Horsemen Want Breed-Specific Drug Rules

Blood-Horse

Horsemen’s representatives told the Ohio Horse Racing Commission March 30 that equine medication rules, which the commission is reviewing, should be breed-specific in nature.

The OSRC in February heard testimony from representatives of the Association of Racing Commissioners International and Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, and in April will hear from veterinarians and scientists as it considers all or parts of the National Uniform Medication Program.

When the process began, OSRC chairman Robert Schmitz said he wanted to hear from all industry stakeholders in the state. Ohio has three Thoroughbred tracks and four Standardbred tracks, all of which now have video lottery terminals; it is predominantly known as a harness racing state.

Phil Langley, president of the Ohio-based United States Trotting Association, reiterated his position that the two breeds require different medication rules because Standardbreds race far more often than Thoroughbreds. The situation led to the USTA defection from the RMTC last year; at issue was withdrawal times for corticosteroids and the bronchodilator clenbuterol.

“I do hope we can come up with a solution for both breeds,” Langley said at the OSRC meeting. “Ed Martin from (RCI) said they have no problem coming up with separate rules for separate breeds.”

In February Schmitz said he was trying to understand “one-size-fits-all” regulation given breed differences. Martin at the time told him he recognizes a need for uniformity but noted there are different model rules for Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, and that a category is being considered for Quarter Horses.

“The Standardbred horses in Ohio, are they different from Standardbred horses in New York and Pennsylvania?” Martin said. “So that’s where maybe the common set of rules would be appropriate.”

Several horsemen’s representatives told the OSRC the state should lead the way in uniform rules for all breeds.

“There truly is no uniformity on medications at this time,” said Dave Basler, executive director of the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. “It’s imperative that uniform medication thresholds and withdrawal times must be based on published research. The horsemen want to know the amount of medication allowed and when administration should end.

“Our basic recommendation is to maintain existing medication thresholds and administration times.”