The New York State Gaming Commission has approved for public comment a new rule that would require a trainer's attending veterinarian to examine a horse withing 72 hours before a race, as well as within 72 hours before a workout, according to the Thoroughbred Daily News. This is in addition to the NYSGC-mandated state veterinarian exam on race day.
The proposed change to Rule 4007.5, which deals with qualifications to start, will be published in the New York State Register for the public's review, after which it would need to be approved via a final vote by the commission at a future meeting.
According to a brief written by NYSGC general counsel Edmund Burns, included in the informational packet for the June 26 monthly meeting, “the proposal is intended to minimize the risks of injury to horses that are unfit to perform.”
Burns continued:
“The proposed rule would require such attending-veterinarian examinations to include, without limitation, a close inspection of the eyes, examination of the legs, and observation of the horse at rest and while in motion. Following a determination that the horse is either fit to race or to work out, the attending veterinarian and trainer would be obligated to inform the racing association's veterinarian of any changes in the horse's fitness before race day or the workout, as the case may be. The evaluation of the horse's fitness to race or work out, as the case may be, would be required to be reported in a manner the Commission directs. The term “workout” would be defined, for clarity.
“Significant injuries can occur if a horse that is already suffering from an injury or illness continues to race or participate in workouts. Exacerbation of such injuries or illnesses could disrupt further racing or training and lead to elevated risk to the horse of further injury, catastrophic breakdown or death. An injured or sick horse is not capable of exerting its best effort during racing or training and the horse's body cannot fully absorb the stresses that racing or working out can impose.
“New York rules currently require a horse being examined by the racing association's veterinarian on race day for the express purpose of evaluating the horse's fitness to race. See 9 NYCRR § 4007.1. Adding the requirement for an examination by the attending veterinarian provides additional safeguards by ensuring an evaluation by a veterinarian with knowledge of the particular horse, while maintaining the examination by the racing association's veterinarian as an additional level of review. Furthermore, adding the requirement for examinations prior to workouts will implement equivalent protections for training.”
Similar rules have been in place in Kentucky since 2020. Pursuant to Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regulation, all horses must have an exam performed by a trainer's veterinarian within the three (3) days preceding a race entry. This exam is to be documented by the trainer's veterinarian and he/she will include their findings on their daily treatment records submitted to the KHRC. Churchill Downs and Keeneland added an additional layer of scrutiny: all horses must have an exam performed by a trainer's veterinarian within the five (5) days preceding a timed workout, per Horsemen-Veterinarian Agreement. This exam is to be documented by a trainer's veterinarian and turned in to both KHRC and (at Churchill and Trackside) CD Equine Medical Director.
Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.
The post New York Advances Rule To Implement Pre-Race, Pre-Work Vet Exams appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
