Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association | Horse Racing Free Tips

Due To Testing Delays, Maryland To Implement Expedited Purse Release Program On Nov. 1

Several years ago the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, in cooperation with the Maryland Jockey Club, instituted an Expedited Purse Release Program to allow for our owners to get purses earned on an expedited basis and before drug test results had been returned to the Maryland Racing Commission by the commission's testing laboratory.

The program required that interested owners sign an agreement that obligated the owner to repay and affected purse money paid that became the subject of a positive drug test.

In light of significant test result delays that are being caused by COVID-19 and other factors beyond the control of the MRC, the MTHA and MJC have determined to implement the program automatically Nov. 1 as to all overnight races, unless an owner determines to opt out of the program. Purse money will be released 72 hours after a race, pursuant to MRC regulations.

If an owner has received purse money earned before the test results are received and a positive test is reported, the owner will be required to return such purse money to the Maryland Thoroughbred Purse Account. Failure to do so can result in suspension of the owner's license until the funds are repaid.

Owners can opt out of the program and await payment of a purse earned once the test results are received. To opt out, an owner must notify the MTHA or MJC in writing.

The MTHA hopes that this change will benefit our racing community and not subject our owners to unnecessary delays in getting their purse earnings.

The post Due To Testing Delays, Maryland To Implement Expedited Purse Release Program On Nov. 1 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Maryland Racing Commission Study to Scope Juveniles in Lasix-Free Races

The Maryland Equine Safety, Health and Welfare Advisory Committee, which falls under the Maryland Racing Commission, has approved a plan for post-race video endoscopies of all starters in 2-year-old races in the state through the end of the year. Details of the survey study designed to determine the extent of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhaging were released Tuesday morning by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and follows Sunday’s announcement of an agreement to card Lasix-free 2-year-old races in the state through Dec. 31.

Private veterinarians who practice at Laurel will conduct the video endoscopies and complete information forms for each horse that will include the horse’s name, its EIPH score, any related comments, and whether the horse trains on Lasix. Additional useful data from each race and race day will be added to the information forms, which will be transferred to an online database.

The MRC will maintain all records from the survey study, and only a horse’s owner and trainer will be given the results of a scope to maintain anonymity. Horses will be scored using a range from 0 to 3–none, mild, moderate or severe bleeding–for the purpose of simplification.

Dr. John Sivick, a Laurel-based veterinarian who is a member of the Equine Safety, Health and Welfare Advisory Committee, said endoscopies are usually performed 30 minutes to 90 minutes after a race, but the goal will be a window of 40 minutes to 70 minutes post-race to keep the scores as consistent as possible.

The survey study is part of a broader agreement between the MTHA and The Stronach Group for a Lasix-free pilot program that runs through 2023 for 2-year-old races and graded stakes only. Graded stakes in 2020 are not part of the pilot program.

The first 2-year-old race of the year in the state was drawn Tuesday and will run on Friday’s program. The five-furlong event drew a field of 10 colts and geldings and will be contested as the sixth race on the program with a purse of $40,000.

The post Maryland Racing Commission Study to Scope Juveniles in Lasix-Free Races appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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2YO Racing Stalemate in Maryland Ends

The Maryland Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review Committee has approved the Maryland Racing Commission’s emergency regulation that will facilitate Lasix-free 2-year-old races, it was announced Sunday evening. No races for juveniles have been held in Maryland this year due to a stalemate between the state’s racing factions over the use of the anti-bleeder medication. It was announced on July 16 that The Maryland Jockey Club, The Stronach Group and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association had reached an agreement for a Lasix-free pilot program through 2023.

While no 2-year-old races are listed in the current Laurel Park condition book, Maryland Jockey Club President Sal Sinatra said there would be two extra races offered for Friday, Aug. 7: a Lasix-free 2-year-old maiden special weight and Lasix-free 2-year-old maiden special weight for fillies, both at five furlongs.

Relatedly, the MRC Equine Safety, Health and Welfare Advisory Committee July 31 authorized a veterinary survey study of all 2-year-olds that race in Maryland through Dec. 31 of 2020. The objective of the study is to track the incidence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in 2-year-olds racing without Lasix using video scopes.

The emergency regulation was approved for the standard six-month period, from July 31, 2020 through Jan. 26, 2021.

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Lasix-Free Races May Begin Friday In Maryland After Emergency Regulations Approved

The Maryland Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review Committee Aug. 2 said it has approved the Maryland Racing Commission's emergency regulation on use of race-day Lasix in 2-year-olds, a decision that will facilitate the carding of races for 2-year-olds at Laurel Park.

No 2-year-old races have been run in Maryland so far this year. There are no such races in the current Laurel condition book, which runs through Aug. 22, so the races will be listed as extras on overnights. Maryland Jockey Club President Sal Sinatra said that there will be two late breaking extras for Friday, August 7th: X7 Lasix-free 2-year-old MSW five furlongs; X8 Lasix-free Filly 2-year-old MSW five furlongs.

The MRC on July 16 approved—subject to adoption of an emergency rule—an agreement between the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and The Stronach Group/Maryland Jockey Club for a Lasix-free pilot program through 2023. The pilot program was subject to the approval by the AELR Committee of the revised Lasix regulation, which states that no 2-year-old can be administered Lasix within 48 hours of a race; the remainder of the regulation will not be changed.

In a related matter, the MRC Equine Safety, Health and Welfare Advisory Committee July 31 authorized a veterinary survey study of all 2-year-olds that race in Maryland through Dec. 31 of this year. The objective, as directed by the MRC, is to track the incidence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in 2-year-olds racing without Lasix.

Under the survey study, veterinarians will take video endoscopies of all starters in 2-year-old races through Dec. 31, 2020. The MRC emergency regulation was approved for the standard six-month period—July 31, 2020, through Jan. 26, 2021.

The post Lasix-Free Races May Begin Friday In Maryland After Emergency Regulations Approved appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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