Dr. Jensen received his DVM from Iowa State University in 1962 and MS in 1963. He worked as a racing regulatory veterinarian for 42 years, serving as a commission veterinarian for the Illinois Racing Board for 32 years, and for 10 years with the CHRB under an agreement with the University of California, Davis. He then spent 10 years working with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Safety and Integrity Alliance Accreditation Inspection Team.

An honor-roll member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), Dr. Jensen served on the AAEP Board of Directors, chaired the Racing Regulatory Committee, and was a member of the Ethics and Infractions Committee. He was the regulatory veterinary advisor for the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) when it was first formed, and he served as Chairman of the Veterinary Advisory Committee for the Association of Racing Commissioners (ARCI).

Internationally, Dr. Jensen was a founding member of the International Group of Specialists Racing Veterinarians (IGSRV), serving first as the North American representative, and later as president and then treasurer. He also was the IGSRV representative on the Scientific Advisory Council for the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

Dr. Jensen was a member of the Standing Committee, the Management Committee, and the U.S. Organizing Committee for the International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians (ICRAV).

Arrangements for a Celebration of Life are pending

The post Dr. Ronald Jensen, Former Equine Medical Director For CHRB Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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In addition, Dr. Palmer will be available to speak to the media in the event of any equine health-related on-track incidents that take place during the day. Dr. Luis Castro, the American Association of Equine Practitioners on-call veterinarian, will provide media support for the FOX Network coverage of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Horses entered for the Gold Cup will be subject to 72-hour 'dedicated watch'–i.e. one guard stationed full time–by experienced security personnel leading up to post time. Horses are bound to the following:

• Horses must be on the grounds of Saratoga Race Course no later than 72 hours prior to their anticipated post time. Exceptions are at the discretion of the Stewards.
• The Commission will obtain out-of-competition blood samples of horses competing in The Jockey Club Gold Cup and have the samples tested at the New York Equine Drug Testing and Research Program at Morrisville State College.
• The Commission has coordinated with other jurisdictions to obtain out-of-competition samples from horses not stabled in New York.
• Once arrived, horses must remain at Saratoga Race Course until after the running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Exceptions will only be granted in the case of an unforeseeable emergency, as determined by the dedicated watch security in consultation with veterinarians and the Stewards.
• Horses shall reside in their trainers' current barns and/or at stalls on the grounds, which are subject to monitoring by security personnel.
• No horse entered in the Jockey Club Gold Cup may be treated within 72-hours of the race unless Commission security personnel are present. NYRA or Commission security personnel will monitor all treatments performed by veterinarians.
• No administration of any medication or substance by dose syringe is permitted within 24-hours of a race.
• All syringes and containers for administered medication will be retained by Commission personnel for possible testing.
• Veterinarians shall submit a 72-hour treatment plan for each horse entered in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Plans were due by noon Aug. 31, 2022.
• Complete veterinary records for 72-hours prior to the Jockey Club Gold Cup shall be submitted to the Commission, which will review and then publicly post the records to its website.
• Entry-exit logs will be maintained by NYRA and Commission security personnel.
• All persons–including veterinarians, trainers, assistant trainers, farriers, owners, or other connections–on entering the stall, engaging in contact with the horse, or performing any service for the horse, must have a valid Commission license on their person.
• Such persons will be logged-in by security personnel, along with the reason for their visit.
• Routine stall and horse maintenance by identified grooms and staff will be monitored but are exempt from logging.
• All equipment, feed, hay bales, etc. are subject to search and seizure by both NYRA and the Commission, as provided by law.
• On race day, no treatments will be permitted for horses entered in any Stakes Race pursuant to NYRA policy, unless it is for an emergency or as approved by the Stewards.
• All horses participating in the Jockey Club Gold Cup must report to the Assembly Barn no less than 45 minutes prior to the designated Post Time.
• On race day, blood samples for TCO2 analysis will be collected from horses in the Assembly Barn between 45 minutes to 1 hour before post time. Horses will then be escorted to the paddock.

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The court filing, dated Feb. 24, also seeks declarative and injunctive relief, arguing that the position of equine medical director does not require an active license, and that Blea, UC Davis and the CHRB will continue to suffer “irreparable harm” if California horse racing's head veterinarian remains unable to fulfill his duties.

UC Davis placed Blea on administrative leave from his role as equine medical director in January. That position is first appointed by the dean of UC Davis, which then contracts with the CHRB for the appointee's services.

In the interim, UC Davis has used “school personnel” to fulfill the duties of the equine medical director for the CHRB.

Monday, Blea also set the ball officially rolling towards a formal hearing on the veterinary board's accusations against him, filing a notice of defense.

In the meantime, Blea will also likely seek to stay the interim suspension of his veterinary license until the Superior Court can officially hear the matter, explained his attorney, George Wallace.

Another purpose of the stay would be to potentially delay the formal hearing on the accusations against Blea so that the veterinary board receives guidance from the Superior Court “on what the law is,” said Wallace.

At the start of the year, the veterinary board announced that an emergency hearing had resulted in an interim suspension of Blea's veterinary license for a number of alleged offenses, including purportedly administering medications to racehorses without a prior examination, without forming a diagnosis and without medical necessity.

The veterinary board also claimed that Blea presents a “danger to public health, safety and welfare,” due to his oversight as equine medical director of the high-profile investigation into the death of the Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit (Protonico), the Kentucky Derby winner who collapsed and died after a scheduled workout Dec. 6 at Santa Anita.

The necropsy and postmortem review of Medina Spirit's death is now complete, with the cause of death undetermined. John Pascoe, the executive associate dean of UC Davis's School of Veterinary Medicine, ultimately oversaw the necropsy examination.

According to various leading veterinary medical experts, the veterinary board's accusations levelled against Blea—including amended accusations from earlier this month—consist largely of lax record keeping.

Veterinary experts also suggest that the veterinary board's investigation potentially failed to account for the unusual nature of veterinary practice on the backstretch, where veterinarians–even those with multiple barns under their care–can build the sort of daily relationship with their animals absent from traditional small animal practice.

In his filing with the Superior Court, Blea argues that the interim suspension of his veterinary license is invalid for several reasons, including how the administrative law judge who issued the suspension used a “preponderance of evidence” to support her decision, instead of the legally required higher standard based on “clear and convincing proof to a reasonable certainty.”

The judge's findings “are not supported by the weight of the evidence, or by any substantial evidence, or at all,” the filing states.

Furthermore, even though Blea retired from medical practice in June of last year–to assume the role of equine medical director–there is “no substantial evidence” to suggest that even if he were still practicing, he poses a “danger” to anyone, the filing states.

“The Accusation is devoid of any assertion, or suggestion, that any equine patient of Dr. Blea was harmed in any way, or that any of Dr. Blea's clients (the owners and trainers of those horses, the “consumers” of veterinary services whose interests are to be protected by the Veterinary Medical Board) have the slightest complaint about his professional practices in the care of those patients,” the filing adds.

The veterinary board has also argued that the statutory definition of the equine medical director position means that Blea is actively engaging in veterinary medicine by conducting his duties.

In his Superior Court filing, Blea takes issue with that assessment, arguing that the veterinary board's reading of the state's Business and Professions Code is “overbroad and unreasonable,” and is incorrect “as a matter of law.”

The CHRB has thrown its weight behind Blea. Earlier this month, senior CHRB officials said that the agency was contemplating a similar legal intervention in the Superior Court on Blea's behalf.

Monday, CHRB executive director, Scott Chaney, explained the agency is still in the process of finalizing that strategy.

The TDN also asked UC Davis if Blea would resume his equine medical director duties if California Superior Court grants a stay on his interim suspension. UC Davis has yet to respond.

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Blea is facing eight causes for discipline, according to formal “accusation” documents issued in late December. Blea's veterinary license was suspended at an emergency meeting held on Christmas Eve. He has not been operating his racetrack practice since taking the job of equine medical director last summer.

“The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is aware the interim order of suspension of Dr. Jeff Blea's veterinary license has been upheld and is monitoring the situation as the legal process moves forward,” Amy Quinton, a UC Davis spokesperson, told the LA TImes. “At this time, Dr. Blea remains on administrative leave. The School of Veterinary Medicine continues to fulfill its duties to provide equine medical director services for the CHRB.”

Blea has also been removed from his role overseeing the investigation into the death of Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit, who dropped dead after completing a workout at Santa Anita. The equine medical director is not responsible for actually performing necropsies or testing biological samples on horses who die in racing or training in California or elsewhere. Those responsibilities go to veterinary pathologists and toxicologists — in California, those duties are contracted to UC-Davis, though some samples have been shipped outside California in this particular case. The equine medical director would be responsible for gathering reports and interpreting them for presentation to the board and to the public.

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In short, the deputy attorney general Elaine Yan representing the veterinary board took a procedural defense of the petition, arguing that the allegations against Blea amount to violations of standards of practice within the veterinary community as codified in the veterinary medicine practice act.

“These guidelines emphasize the importance of examinations and diagnosis,” said Yan, before zeroing in on what she said is the “most important part” of the clinical guidelines.

“It states, and I quote, 'Documentation of the use of all prescription drugs should conform to the requirements of the applicable state veterinary practice act,'” said Yan.

George Wallace, Blea's attorney, argued that the allegations against Blea don't meet the “extraordinary standard” that is typically required to suspend a veterinary license, and that no formal hearing on the “merit” of the allegations has yet been conducted and thus proven.

“You've had drunken veterinarians. You've had substance abusing veterinarians who you would not trust in a surgical suite. You have had grossly incompetent veterinarians who keep messing up even after the accusations have been filed,” said Wallace.

“In none of those cases has the veterinary medical board sought in interim suspension order. Dr. Blea is apparently the most dangerous veterinarian in existence in California, and the board has not articulated an actual present remotely likely danger that is posed by letting this disciplinary process go through the process of hearing the merits and a determination,” Wallace added.

Administrative law judge Nana Chin has 30 days with which to issue a written ruling on the case. According to Wallace, he expects that ruling to arrive by the end of next week.

Earlier this month, the California Veterinary Medical Board announced that an emergency hearing had resulted in an interim suspension of Blea's veterinary license for a number of alleged offenses, including purportedly administering “dangerous drugs” to racehorses without a prior examination, without forming a diagnosis and without medical necessity.

The veterinary board also claims that Blea presents a “danger to public health, safety and welfare,” due to his oversight as equine medical director of the high-profile investigation into the death of the Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit (Protonico), the Kentucky Derby winner who collapsed and died after a scheduled workout on Dec. 6 at Santa Anita.

A TDN investigation into the accusations leveled against Blea found a consensus among veterinary medical experts that the infractions are largely matters of poor record-keeping which rarely, if ever, rise to the level of a suspended license.

The role of equine medical director is first appointed by the dean of UC Davis, who then contracts out the appointee's services to the CHRB.

Last week, UC Davis placed Blea on administrative leave pending a formal review of his veterinary license–this, despite the CHRB's arguments that the position isn't one that has historically required an active license.

At the beginning of Friday's hearing, an attorney representing the CHRB attempted to formally participate in the hearing by arguing that the veterinary board's actions to remove Blea from his equine medical director position constitutes regulatory overreach.

In response, deputy attorney general Michael Yi argued that it did fall within the veterinary board's purview because the statutory definition of the position means that Blea is actively “engaging in veterinary medicine by conducting his duties.”

Judge Chin, however, said that the sole purpose of the hearing was to examine the merits of the allegations against Blea.

“This is something that will have to be dealt with at a full administrative hearing where parties can argue whether that constitutes unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine,” said Chin, about whether the equine medical director position requires an active license.

This left deputy attorney general Yan to argue that an interim suspension of Blea's license was necessary in the event Blea returned to veterinary practice.

In doing so, Yan cited a passage of the veterinary board's petition for an interim suspension against Blea where he's alleged to have administered, from January 2021 through March 2021, medications to 3,225 horses. “This averages out to be 48 horses per day,” the petition states.

“The fact that he can go back to administering drugs to 50 horses a day, thousands of horses a month, at the behest of the trainer and not in the best interest of the horses, truly poses a serious danger to public and equine health if his license is restored,” said Yan.

Wallace argued that Blea, who hasn't practiced veterinary medicine since he took over as CHRB equine medical director last year, has no intention of returning to practice in the near future.

Wallace also suggested that the judge could “fine tune” an order to deny the interim suspension for Blea so that he could resume his equine medical director post, and still prevent him from returning to medical practice.

“But you shouldn't even get to that. You should deny this petition outright,” said Wallace. “And if you could, I would ask you to vacate the original suspension as improvidently granted retroactive to January third.”

Wallace added, “The board has not met the standard for this extraordinary imposition on quite possibly one of the finest veterinarians in America, and I would submit that this must be denied and repudiated in every way possible.”

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As of Oct. 26, 2021, the New York Drug Testing and Research Program will commence testing of biologic samples for the presence of bisphosphonates. Absent written Commission approval of a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption, detection of bisphosphonate compounds in biologic samples obtained from 2-year-old and 3-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses will be considered by the Commission to be evidence of a violation of 9 NYCRR 4043.12(c) for which a fine of $25,000 and loss of occupational license may be imposed.

Horses testing positive for bisphosphonates will not be permitted to race until such time as they are re-tested and found to be clear of bisphosphonate compounds.

Background

On March 28, 2019, the Office of the Equine Medical Director issued two advisories regarding the use of bisphosphonates. The first advisory recommended that no bisphosphonate be administered to a racehorse that is less than four years old.

The second advisory warned that Thoroughbred horse owners, trainers, and/or veterinarians had a responsibility to guard against an impermissible administration of a bisphosphonate to a racehorse under potential penalty.

The post New York To Begin Testing For Bisphosphonates Oct. 26; Penalties Include $25,000 Fine, Loss Of License appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Developed by Dr. Scott Palmer, the New York State Gaming Commission's Equine Medical Director, the protocols indicated that when the heat index reaches 105, the “racetrack veterinarian should contact the stewards or judges and track management to advise them of the presence of dangerous weather conditions.” This then launches a discussion about whether racing should be allowed to continue.

Racing was last cancelled due to excessive heat on July 20, 2019, when the heat index reached 110.

Read more at the Times-Union.

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She most recently served as the Medical Director and Veterinarian of Pet Wellness Clinics, which has nine locations in central Indiana. In addition, her past regulatory experience includes Director of Animal Health Programs for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

“We are excited to have Dr. Peterson join our team at the IHRC. It is essential to have full time guidance from a talented individual who has the necessary education and background to assist our agency in animal and safety welfare. Dr. Peterson will serve as an available regulatory resource in working with racing officials, practicing veterinarians and horsemen regarding current rules, proposed medication rules and assist the commission in navigating the safety and animal welfare issues being proposed nationally. This position is critical to Indiana maintaining the high level of integrity and standards we have built within our racing industry over the years,” stated IHRC's Executive Director Deena Pitman.

In her role as Equine Medical Director, Dr. Peterson will be providing oversight for all Commission related veterinary and equine health needs including testing procedures, compliance, enforcement of commission regulations and spearheading new programs affecting equine welfare. She will be dividing her time between Indiana's two pari-mutual tracks as well as the Commission's Indianapolis office and can be contacted at KePeterson@hrc.IN.gov.

“I'm excited to join the Indiana Horse Racing Commission as their Equine Medical Director. Horse racing has always been a passion of mine. I'm looking forward to working with the Indiana horse racing industry stakeholders to help improve the safety and welfare of the horses and the integrity of the sport,” said Dr. Peterson about her new role.

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While Dr. Blea has been committed to his thriving veterinary practice on the Southern California thoroughbred circuit, he recently decided he could be a more valuable resource to the equine veterinary profession and provide greater assistance in the advancement of the racing industry.

Dr. Gregory Ferraro, chairman of CHRB and a former equine veterinarian himself on the southern circuit, described Dr. Blea as: “a nationally known and widely respected equine veterinarian. He is recognized for his clear thinking and fairness in his decision making.”

Under contract arrangements between the CHRB and the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) at the University of California, Davis, the EMD serves as a member of its faculty. CHRB Executive Director Scott Chaney said the CHRB worked closely with UC Davis during the process, which was prolonged by the pandemic. A joint panel from UC Davis and the CHRB interviewed candidates and selected Dr. Blea.

“We value this partnership,” added Chaney. “We were fortunate to consider several well-qualified candidates. I am very pleased with the process and the choice. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Blea to make racing safer at this critical time.”

Dr. John Pascoe, SVM executive associate dean, commented: 'We very much look forward to Dr. Blea serving as the next Equine Medical Director and continuing the vision of late Senator Ken Maddy for a robust partnership between the University of California-Davis, the CHRB, and the racing industry to improve the health and welfare of racing horses. Jeff brings a wealth of expertise to the EMD position. His extensive knowledge of racing, equine and racetrack practice, his national leadership in equine and racing organizations, and his commitment to research that improves horse racing assure that California will continue to lead the nation in our collective efforts to ensure safe racing.'

Dr. Blea brings 28 years of veterinary experience with him, and before that he rode briefly as a jockey. He always has been interested in improving horse racing, focusing primarily on equine health and welfare, as evidenced by his leadership nationally with the American Association of Equine Practitioners and regionally with the Southern California Equine Foundation. He served as a director of the Dolly Green Research Foundation from 1999 to 2015. The list of the organizations and programs he has served is long and admirable.

Dr. Blea always has been forthcoming, expressing common sense and fairness, regardless of which side he favored on any given issue.

“As Equine Medical Director,” he said, “I look forward to working with industry stakeholders in further advancing the progressive transformation of horse racing in California with the emphasis on horse safety, welfare, and integrity.”

Dr. Arthur added, “Dr. Blea is an excellent choice to become EMD. He has a broad background in horse racing and is well respected by his colleagues here in California and nationally.”

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