Medication | Horse Racing Free Tips

Trainers In Maryland Warned About Use Of Amicar

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association has released a statement regarding the use of anti-bleeding medications for racehorses in training. Horsemen are encouraged to stop the use of these drugs immediately, particularly the use of aminocaproic acid, sold under the name Amicar.

Amicar and other anti-bleeding medications are used to prevent bleeding from horses that suffer from Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH).

Amicar and multiple other anti-bleeding medications were placed on the Prohibited List in 2013 under Association of Racing Commissioners International Uniform Classification Guidelines for Foreign Substances.

These medications were placed on this list because they cannot be regulated by withdrawal time guidelines, and the medications have no timeline in which they can be used in which they might not trigger a positive test post-race.

Any trainer who uses these medications runs the risk of his or her horse coming back with a positive drug test post-race.

Bisphosphonate Complaint Issued Against Metz By CHRB

A complaint involving a banned bisphosphonate has been lodged by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) against trainer Jeffrey Metz, summoning him to a stewards' hearing.

According to a CHRB complaint dated Apr. 29, a positive for tiludronic acid was confirmed via split-sample testing from Camino de Estrella (Mineshaft), who finished sixth in the third race Sept. 27, 2020, at Santa Anita.

The now-7-year-old gelding was claimed that day for $20,000, and has finished no better than sixth in four subsequent starts for a four-way partnership that includes trainer Bill Spawr.

The complaint states that, “Tiludronic Acid is considered a prohibited drug substance Class 1 Penalty Category A,” which is the most severe classification.

However, tiludronic acid is not specifically listed as an individual substance on the CHRB's “Classification of Foreign Substances” list, which is modeled after the Uniform Classification Guidelines for Foreign Substances list published by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI).

But a separate CHRB rule states that, “Any drug or its metabolite or analogue thereof found to be present in an official test sample that is not classified in Rule 1843.2 of this division shall be classified as a Class 1 substance and a Category 'A' penalty until classified by the Board.”

On July 1, 2020, the CHRB enacted Rule 1867.1, which broadly prohibits the administration of bisphosphonates to any horse within a facility regulated by the CHRB and also prohibits any horse from entering the grounds if it has been administered a bisphosphonate within the prior six months (effectively making the rule retroactive to Jan. 1, 2020).

According to the ARCI's ruling database, Metz has two medication violations within the past five years, one each for Class 3 (xylazine in 2018, fined $250) and Class 4 (triamcinolone acetonide in 2016, fined $300). Both occurred at Emerald Downs, where he has won four training titles, and on both occasions the stewards there cited Metz's lack of a history of medication violations in issuing penalties for those two offenses.

In California, the recommended penalties for first-time Class 1 violations by a trainer call for a minimum one-year suspension and a minimum fine of $10,000, although mitigating circumstances can be taken into consideration.

The complaint states that “the horse shall be disqualified and any purse money forfeited.” The complaint lists the owners of Camino de Estrella at the time of the positive test as Jeffrey West (Saratoga West), Scott Gruender (Horseplayers Racing Club) and Jeremy Hodges.

No date for a stewards' hearing was listed on the complaint.

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Pennsylvania Amends Lasix Rules

The Pennsylvania Racing Commission has adopted a new set of rules regarding the medication Lasix, which will soon be banned in all 2-year-old races and graded stakes. The rules, which were approved at a regularly scheduled commission meeting Tuesday, will go into effect June 1.

There are seven graded stakes races set to be run this year at Parx, including the GI Pennsylvania Derby and the GI Cotillion S.

“I thought that it was obvious that this was the right way to go because Lasix gets abused badly,” said Racing Commissioner Russell Jones, Jr. “There are horses on it that don't need to be on it. It's just 2-year-olds and graded stakes for now. One step at a time.”

Pennsylvania joins a growing list of states that have cracked down on the use of Lasix. For the first time in decades, it will not be allowed at any of this year's Triple Crown races.

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Baffert Issues Statement on Medication Issues

In a statement circulated to the media Wednesday morning, Bob Baffert pledged to do everything possible to ensure that he receives no further medication positives, saying that he wanted to be a positive influence on horse racing.

Baffert, who has seen medication positives over overages three times in the last six months, outlined several steps his barn was taking.

The statement in full reads:

“2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. It has been no exception for my family, my barn, and me. I am very aware of the several incidents this year concerning my horses and the impact it has had on my family, horse racing, and me.

“I want to have a positive influence on the sport of horse racing. Horses have been my life and I owe everything to them and the tremendous sport in which I have been so fortunate to be involved.

“We can always do better and that is my goal. Given what has transpired this year, I intend to do everything possible to ensure I receive no further medication complaints. As such, I want to announce that, beginning immediately, I plan to implement the following procedures in an effort to make my barn one of the leaders in best practices and rule compliance:

I am retaining Dr. Michael Hore of the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute to add an additional layer of protection to ensure the well-being of horses in my care and rule compliance.
I am increasing the training and awareness of all my employees when it comes to proper protocols.
I am personally increasing my oversight and commitment to running a tight ship and being careful that protective measures are in place.

“I want to raise the bar and set the standard for equine safety and rule compliance going forward. For those of you that have been upset over the incidents of this past year, I share in your disappointment. I humbly vow to do everything within my power to do better. I want my legacy to be one of making every effort to do right by the horse and the sport.”

Baffert’s most recent medication issue was Gamine’s positive test for betamethasone, a corticosteroid, when she was third in the GI Kentucky Oaks Sept. 4. Gamine also tested positive for lidocaine at Oaklawn May 2, as did Charlatan the same day.

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