RMTC sets recommendations for Lasix policy. Click here. (note: The thoroughbred Breeders’ Cup has made an historical decision to ban raceday medications including Lasix from its juvenile races in 2012, and from all its races beginning in 2013)
Other selected press releases and newsletters:
07 January 2011 load date - RMTC NEWSLETTER, WINTER 2010, click here
16 April 2010 load date - RMTC recommends new Bute Thresholds, click here
27 March 2010 load date - RMTC NEWSLETTER, SPRING 2010, click here
10 January 2010 load date - RMTC NEWSLETTER, WINTER 2009, click here
6 November 2009 load date - RMTC NEWSLETTER, FALL 2009, click here
8 July 2009 load date - RMTC BOARD IMPLEMENTS INITIATIVES ON LAB STANDARDS, QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, click here
for more informatio about RMTC and news, contact:
Hallie Roach Lewis, Director of Communications
Racing Medication & Testing Consortium
821 Corporate Drive
Lexington, KY 40503
(859) 224-2848 - Direct Dial
(859) 296-3033 - Fax
"Strengthening the Integrity of Racing" www.rmtcnet.com www.facebook.com/RMTCnet
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The Arabian Jockey Club, of which TABA is an affiliate, supports the ban on anabolic steroids for all racehorses at any time. The Arabian Jockey Club is a member of the RMTC (Racing Medication and Testing Consortium- also see rmtcnet.com) which is comprised of associations of various racing breeds. The mission of the RMTC is to strengthen the integrity of racing by offering a level playing field and high safety standards for racehorses. It is important that the Arabian Jockey Club remains a part of this consortium, and donations are requested so the Arabian breed can stay a integral part of this group.
"Due to the incredible generosity of the people listed below, the Arabian Jockey Club has met its goal of obtaining our portion of the donation needed to belong to the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. The use of illegal drugs in racing has cast dispersions on our industry owners, trainers, bettors and more importantly proven harmful to the beautiful and courageous athletes, the horses.
The Arabian Jockey Club is proud to be a part of this important and necessary consortium. If we are to be a part of the future of racing horses, we (the Arabian racing industry as a whole) must be a part of the solution for keeping our sport "clean".
Thank you to all of you who have stepped up to the plate to help your Arabian Jockey Club.
If you haven't participated and still wish to be a part of the solution to keep Arabian racing involved at a national and international level, please feel free to donate. All money will continue to be forwarded to the RMTC for the continuing research and work they provide."
Kathryn Smoke, President
Arabian Jockey Club
U S A
kks@wcomco.com
www.arabianracing.org
Donating?
Make check payable to:
Arabian Jockey Club and mail to:
Arabian Jockey Club
c/o RMTC
5423 Sutton Road
Britton, MI 49229
Donors:
Fred & Joy Cox
Cre Run Farm
Sue & Jim Meyer
Paul & Kathy Smoke
Robert Teagle
Arabian Finish Line
Ken & Nancy Blewett
Race Street Management Inc.
Anne Seymour
Don & Leslie Smith
Valour Farms
RoseBrook Farm
Hickory Lane Farm
Mandolynn Hill Farm
Eric & Randi Moreau-Sipiere
Michele & John Youngdale
Oakcrest Farms LLC.
John & Julie Winter
Trackside Farm
Texas Law on Drugs in Racing
The Texas Racing Commission enforces that no prohibited drug, chemical, or other substance may be administered to a horse within the 24-hour period before the post time for the race in which the horse is entered. This includes prohibition of any seemingly safe substance like Banamine or cough medicines or antibiotics. All drugs are prohibited with the exceptions of Phenylbutazone (bute) and Furosemide (Lasix) and only according to the regulations below.
After every race, the first and second place finishers are escorted directly to the test barn for blood and urine screenings. Additionally, random horses may be picked from the field for testing.
Phenylbutazone:
Phenylbutazone (bute) is the only approved anti-inflammatory drug which may be present in the body of a horse while participating in a race. The test level of bute shall not exceed five (5) micrograms (mg) per milliliter (ml) of plasma.
Lasix:
Texas Racing Commission Excerpts: 319.111 - Bleeders and Furosemide (Lasix) Program
Diagnosis of EIPH - A bleeder is a horse that experiences Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH). The medical diagnosis of EIPH may be made only by a commission veterinarian or a practicing veterinarian holding a current license from the commission. A veterinarian who diagnoses an EIPH event in a horse participating in pari-mutuel racing in this state shall report the event to the commission veterinarian in a format prescribed by the commission. On receipt of the first report of a diagnosed EIPH event for a horse, the commission veterinarian shall certify the horse as a bleeder.
Admission to the Furosemide (Lasix/Salix) program -
Sec. 319.111 (b)(1) A trainer may admit a horse to the Furosemide Program by stating at the time of entry that the horse will compete with Furosemide. (Horses will no longer have to be certified bleeders to race on Furosemide and you will not have to sign up with the Racing Commission. Make sure you know the Furosemide status of your horse when entering for races.)
Sec. 319.111 (b)(3) An EIPH event experienced by a horse that is admitted to the Furosemide Program is deemed to be a second EIPH event for purposes of Subsection (g) of this section.
Sec.319.111 (f) ...A horse may be readmitted to the Furosemide program if: (1) at least 60 days have elapsed since the horse was withdrawn from the program; (2) the horse is required to compete with Furosemide pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section (its last race was out of state on Furosemide); or (3) the commission veterinarian diagnoses the horse with another EIPH event.
Administration of Furosemide (Lasix) -
Furosemide (Lasix) shall be administered to a horse in the furosemide (Lasix) program not later than four hours before the published post time for the race in which the horse is entered to run. The furosemide (Lasix) must be administered intravenously by a veterinarian licensed by the commission. The chief veterinarian shall periodically publish the permissible blood levels of furosemide (Lasix) in post race specimens and shall post the levels at each licensed racetrack.
Requirement to Use Furosemide (Lasix)-
A horse in the furosemide (Lasix) program in Texas must compete with furosemide (Lasix) until withdrawn from the program.
Withdrawal from Furosemide (Lasix)-
The chief veterinarian of the commission shall establish criteria for withdrawing a horse from the Lasix program and shall make those criteria available in the commission veterinarian's office at each racetrack. To withdraw a horse from the Lasix program, the trainer must apply to the commission veterinarian. The commission veterinarian shall require a signed medical statement from the trainer’s regular practicing veterinarian that it is in the horse’s best interest to be withdrawn from the furosemide (Lasix) program. The commission veterinarian may also request any other additional information the commission veterinarian needs to justify the removal of the horse from the furosemide (Lasix) program. A withdrawal request and all accompanying information must be reviewed and decision rendered by the commission veterinarian as soon as possible. A horse in the furosemide (Lasix) program may not compete without furosemide (Lasix) until its withdrawal from the program has been approved by the commission veterinarians. Withdrawal from the furosemide (Lasix) program does not prohibit a horse from subsequent readmission to the program in accordance with this section.
Bleeders List -
The commission veterinarian shall maintain a list of horses that have been certified as bleeders and a list of horses that have been admitted to the furosemide (Lasix) program. On receipt of a report of diagnosed EIPH event, the commission veterinarian shall place the horse on the veterinarian’s list. For the first diagnosed EIPH event, a horse shall be placed on the veterinarian’s list and is ineligible to start in a race before the 12th day after the date the horse is placed on the list. For the second diagnosed EIPH event, a horse shall be placed on the veterinarian's list and is ineligible to start in a race before the 30th day after the date the horse is placed on the list. For the third diagnosed EIPH event, a horse shall be placed on the veterinarian's list and is ineligible to start in a race before the 180th day after the date the horse is placed on the list. For the fourth diagnosed EIPH event, a horse is barred from pari-mutuel racing in this state. A horse that does not have an EIPH (bleeder) event for 365 consecutive days is considered a nonbleeder for the purposes of the paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if after reviewing a report of a diagnosed EIPH event the commission veterinarian determines additional days on the veterinarian's list are essential to the health and safety of the horse, the commission veterinarian may extend the number of days the horse in on the veterinarian's list. The commission veterinarian shall record the medical reasons for the additional days.
Report by Veterinarian -
A veterinarian who administers furosemide (Lasix) to a horse that has been admitted to the furosemide (Lasix) program shall report the administration on a form prescribed by the commission. A report made under this subsection must be filed with the commission veterinarian not later than one hour before post time for the first race of that day.
