association of racing commissioners international | Horse Racing Free Tips

ARCI Working On ‘Smooth Transition’ to HISA

Association of Racing Commissioners International Chair Robert Lopez said today that the U.S. members of ARCI are focused on a smooth and expeditious implementation of the newly enacted Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act.

“We view this as an opportunity to achieve improvements we support and believe necessary,” Lopez said.

“Uniform rules, uniform testing, expanded jurisdiction over horses, and the creation of a multi-jurisdictional investigative entity are all tremendous improvements that will result from this law,” added Ed Martin, ARCI's President.

ARCI had, in the past, advocated a different path to address these needs, specifically the creation of an interstate compact as an alternative to involving the federal government. But, ARCI says, “only a few states picked up that mantle, leaving interested lawmakers in Washington no other choice but to pass the new federal law.”

“The ARCI and U.S. State regulators are eager and ready to work in partnership with the new authority, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and the Federal Trade Commission to ensure a smooth transition and effective program,” Martin said.

“RCI Members in Canada have long demonstrated how a federal agency can partner with Provincial Racing Commissions with each complimenting the other. We envision that happening in the US,” Lopez said.

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Robert Lopez Appointed Chair Of Association Of Racing Commissioners International

The Chairman of the Washington State Horse Racing Commission, Robert Lopez, is the new Chair of the Association of Racing Commissioners International. Lopez replaces Tom Sage of Nebraska whose term expired.

Lopez will lead the association at a transitional time in North American racing as a new federal law in the United States is implemented creating a new national regulatory entity to partner with existing state commissions.

A graduate of the FBI's National Academy, Lopez is a longtime law enforcement professional who worked his way up as a member of the Washington State Patrol before retiring as Assistant Chief in 2001.

In 2002, Lopez began a second career in horse racing regulation, joining the staff of the racing commission and again working his way up to become Executive Secretary. In 2015, he was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to serve as a Member of the Commission and subsequently elevated to serve as Commission Chairman.

For many years Lopez has been a key leader within the ARCI, serving on its Board of Directors and the prestigious Model Rules Committee.

The ARCI held its Annual Meeting online yesterday to elect ten At-Large Directors to augment those designated by the top five horse racing jurisdictions as measured by live race days consistent with the organization's ByLaws. The five automatic Board Members are: Brent Stone, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario; Rob Williams, New York Gaming Commission; Chairman Scott Borgemenke, Ohio State Racing Commission; Anthony Salerno, Pennsylvania Racing Commission; Louis Trombetta, Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.

The following individuals were elected yesterday to the RCI Board:

J. Michael Hopkins – Executive Director, Maryland Racing Commission
Commissioner Connie McNabb, DVM – Texas Racing Commission
Judith Nason, Esq. – Executive Director, New Jersey Racing Commission
Marc Guilfoil – Executive Director, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
Charles Moore – Executive Director, Wyoming Gaming Commission
David Lermond – Executive Director, Virginia Racing Commission
Commissioner Duncan Patterson – Chair, Delaware Thoroughbred Commission
Charles Gardiner – Executive Director, Louisiana Racing Commission
Kelly Cathey – Executive Director, Oklahoma Racing Commission
Doug Moore – Executive Director, Washington State Racing Commission

At its next Board meeting, the ARCI will elect two additional Board Members to serve as Secretary/Chair-elect and Treasurer. Chairman Lopez will also appoint two additional At-Large Members consistent with his authority under the ByLaws.

The ARCI is a “board driven” entity and its President and staff implement and articulate policies and positions that represent the decisions made by the Members. Every regulatory agency member is represented at Board meetings as an “Ex-Officio” Board Member.

The post Robert Lopez Appointed Chair Of Association Of Racing Commissioners International appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Four Trainers Receive One-Year Bans, $10,000 Fines For Texas Ractopamine Positives

The Texas Racing Commission in recent months has handed out one-year suspensions and $10,000 fines to four trainers whose horses tested positive for ractopamine, a Class 2 drug carrying a Class A penalty under the Association of Racing Commissioners International's Uniform Classification Guidelines.

Ractopamine is a feed additive for cattle and swine designed to create lean muscle. When used in horses, it reportedly acts similarly to anabolic steroids in building muscle mass. Ractopamine has also been found to be a contaminant in commercially sold horse feed manufactured by companies that also make additives for cattle and swine that contain the drug.

Jerenesto Torrez, who has been training since 1991, is the only one of the four trainers who primarily conditions Thoroughbreds. His sanctions stem from a positive post-race test for Mine Inspector, second-place finisher in the fourth race at Lone Star Park last July 27. His suspension began on Jan. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. Mine Inspector was disqualified and also placed on the veterinarian's list for 90 days last Oct. 15 after a split sample confirmed the ractopamine finding.

The three others suspended for one year and fined $10,000 are primarily Quarter Horse trainers. They are:

Jorge L Muniz, whose My Famous Troubadour was disqualified from a Retama Park win in the fifth race on Aug. 13, 2020. Muniz' suspension runs from Nov. 20, 2020, through Nov. 19, 2021.
Xavier Alonzo Jr., whose Medicci was disqualified from a second-place finish at Lone Star Park on Sept. 26, 2020. His suspension runs from Jan. 23, 2021, through Jan. 22, 2022.
Jesus Marquez Meza, who had two ractopamine positives reported at the same time. The first was for A Louisiana Miracle, second-place finisher in the third race at Lone Star Park on Sept. 13, 2020. The second was for American Hussle, third in the 11th race at Lone Star Park on Sept. 19, 2020. Meza's suspension for both violations runs from Nov. 1, 2020, through Oct. 31, 2021.

All of the horses were required to go on the veterinarian's list and are required to pass an approved veterinary examination before being eligible to race.

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CHRB Approves Funding Of Marketing Program, Updates Drug Classifications

The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis.

The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief:

The Board approved an agreement between the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), the Los Angeles Turf Club (Santa Anita), and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (Del Mar) under which those parties will redirect some of their own revenue from Advance Deposit Wagering into a marketing program to fund player rebates, stakes recruitment, and Ship & Win incentives, among other things. This program replicates the functions of the defunct California Marketing Committee.
The Board began the regulatory process to update the CHRB classification of drug substances to align with Association of Racing Commissions International (ARCI) Uniform Classification Guidelines. The Horse Racing Safety and Integrity Act body is expected to adhere closely to ARCI guidelines as they promulgate their federal regulations.
Executive Director Scott Chaney described improvements to the CHRB website, including Racing Reforms Recommendations and the posting of Test Sample Positives in advance of the filing of complaints, pursuant to SB 800.
The Board authorized the distribution of $9,157 in statutorily mandated race day charity proceeds by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC) to nine beneficiaries. This amount was substantially less than the previous year's distribution because pandemic restrictions limited the on-track handle on which the program is based. DMTC voluntarily donated $105,058 to bring the total distribution to $114,215.
Public comments made during the meeting can be accessed through the meeting audio archive on the CHRB website.

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