mid-atlantic strategic plan to reduce equine fatalities

Horsemen’s Groups Partner To Provide Thoroughbred Trainers With Online Continuing Education Platform

The California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT), Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) and New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) have teamed up to provide a Continuing Education platform for Thoroughbred trainers and assistant trainers. Horsemen U offers approved online CE webinars and issues CE certificates after a course and a short quiz have been completed. Trainers and assistant trainers can register, free of charge, and maintain their CE records in their account. The website for the platform is www.HorsemenU.com.

Continuing education has been adopted as one of the core Best Practices developed by the stakeholders involved in the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities. CE requirements have been implemented in California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and West Virginia. Pennsylvania and Virginia are in the process of adopting CE regulations.

Dr. Scott Palmer, the Equine Medical Director for the New York State Gaming Commission, spearheaded the nation's first CE regulation, which was enacted in New York in December of 2016.

“There have been so many advances in the field of racehorse training in just the last five years,” Dr. Palmer said. “We have new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, new developments in equine nutrition, and new regulations on everything from medication to immigration to wage and hour law every year. We want to be sure our horsemen can keep up with these changes, and use the knowledge gained to further their success, and the success of our industry as a whole.”

All licensed trainers and assistant trainers in the U.S. are eligible to register for a Horsemen U account. There are currently 12 webinars offered on the platform, on topics ranging from “Diagnostic Imaging of the Racehorse Fetlock” to “Equine Drug Testing” to “Equine Welfare, Horse Racing and the Social License to Operate.” The webinars have been hosted by the California Horse Racing Board, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit and the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

“California has been developing its CE program and rules for many years, thanks to the leadership of retiring Equine Medical Director Dr. Rick Arthur and our Racing Commission,” said Dr. Jeff Blea, who took the reins as the CHRB Equine Medical Director July 1. “Horsemen U was largely developed by Andy Belfiore. California Thoroughbred Trainers is indebted to her for her foresight and pleased to be a contributor to a platform that is not only convenient, but in many ways essential for professional trainers who are committed to always improving their standards of horsemanship and understanding of the increasingly complex regulatory and public environment in which we all live.”

Live webinars are part of the Horsemen U program, with Dr. Dionne Benson scheduled to give a presentation on “Compounded Medications: What Trainers Need to Know” on July 12. All live webinars are recorded and posted on the Horsemen U website.

“Schedules can't always be adjusted to make room for the live webinars, so it is important to have online options as well,” said MTHA President Tim Keefe. “Horsemen U also provides storage for the CE Certificates earned on the site, so the trainers have less paperwork to keep track of. We want to make the process of meeting the CE requirements for our horsemen as seamless as possible.”

The Mid-Atlantic stakeholders and regulators who have committed to the Strategic Plan include Delaware Park, DTHA, Delaware Racing Commission, Maryland Jockey Club, Maryland State Fair (Timonium), MTHA, Maryland Racing Commission, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Monmouth Park, NJTHA, New Jersey Racing Commission, New Jersey Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Finger Lakes Racetrack, Finger Lakes HBPA, NYTHA, New York State Gaming Commission, New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., Penn National Gaming, Parx Racing, Presque Isle Downs, PTHA, Pennsylvania HBPA, Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, Colonial Downs, Virginia Racing Commission, Charles Town, Mountaineer Park, Charles Town HBPA, Mountaineer HBPA, West Virginia Racing Commission, and the National Steeplechase Association.

The post Horsemen’s Groups Partner To Provide Thoroughbred Trainers With Online Continuing Education Platform appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Rick Williams Ready To Enforce ‘Highest Level’ Of Safety Standards At Colonial

When Colonial Downs opens its barn area July 5 and kicks off its summer race meet July 19, Rick Williams will begin his new role as Safety Officer and though there isn't a formal job description that includes his every duty, decades of experience in track operations and regulatory work will certainly come into play.

The new Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities lists 23 items that a Safety Officer is responsible for overseeing. The job is to ensure that all activities and practices involving the training and racing of horses at the track meet required safety standards and regulatory guidelines.

Among them are to monitor daily backside activities and practices in the barn area for compliance with therapeutic and race day medication regulations. Another is to make recommendations to track management and regulators to ensure the welfare of horses and riders and the integrity of racing.

Williams' diverse background in the sport made him a natural candidate for the job. Over the years, he has been a groom and jockey agent and has worked front side jobs in photo finish, mutuels, track maintenance and beyond. In the last 15 years of full-time work — he retired in 2012 — he held a regulatory position with both the Ohio and Kentucky Racing Commissions and was involved in the Breed Development Fund of both.

“I learned something at every stop along the way,” said Williams. “In regulatory roles, I served on a lot of committees that addressed rules, safety and medication issues. I really enjoyed that part of it — digging into the rule book and making changes that helped better the game. In Ohio for instance, we came up with a process of reviewing the rule book annually — to take a chapter each year and tear it apart. Of all the things l've done, that aspect made me feel best — the process itself of a project I was working on.”

Before accepting his latest position, Williams wanted to make sure safety of the horse was paramount in his role. Once he received that confirmation from Colonial's VP of Racing Operations, Jill Byrne, he accepted.

“I was familiar with Jill from my time in Kentucky and learned that she is a straight shooter and doesn't waste time beating around the bush. I learned she cares about horses and has absorbed a good horsemanship approach to many things. The business we are in is about the horses and should start and finish there,” he added. “I think the most important thing is to maintain open communication with management, regulators and horsemen. I hope the horsemen look at me as someone trying to enlighten people on the rules, especially those concerning safety. We want the horsemen to enjoy their time here and there are certain things we need to do to maintain that safety aspect. Each day should operate at the highest level of standards, from the way you treat the animals to the way you treat the public.”

“Rick will be another set of eyes, watching horses in the barns, on the track, and reporting to track management with something that may not look up to our standards, the safety and integrity and care of horses and the horsemen that we expect,” said Byrne. “He'll also work with Dr. Caruthers (VRC Equine Medical Director) in assisting her and her veterinary team as well as the stewards and racing office .”

Since retirement from full time work, Williams has taken part-time jobs here and there at places that interest him, and at places he can work with people he respects. One such person is Colonial Downs' Director of Racing Allison DeLuca. A 2019 visit with her at the New Kent track led to a placing judge position at the abbreviated 2020 meet and his new position in 2021.

“Allison is a dear friend and I've worked with her on and off in Kentucky for about 30 years,” said Williams. “When I first saw the layout of Colonial's dirt track and turf course, it was interesting to me and impressive to say the least. I always knew of Virginia's rich foundation of breeding but to see the plant for the first time, it's just a place that needs to host racing. I've been to about every major racetrack in the country and this place is just beautiful.”

Williams grew up in a racing family. His father was born in Oklahoma where he was a third-generation horseman and initially rode at bush tracks in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. He worked his way up to recognized tracks like Oaklawn then moved east and rode at Monmouth and at circuits in Ohio and Florida. In all, he rode for 18 years.

Williams, who turns 68 this year, was born in Long Branch, New Jersey and currently resides in Grove City, Ohio — near the former Beulah Park — his mother's hometown. Although his grandmother wasn't a hands-on horse person, she loved horse racing and ran a restaurant in Grove City. “Whenever I went to get lunch at the restaurant after school, she would throw a Daily Racing Form in front of me and tell me to pick out a daily double before I could order food. It was something I had to do to get lunch.”

Even though he has worked some of racing's premier events like the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup, Williams paused when asked if he considers himself to be a fan of the sport.

“All I've known from day one is horse racing,” he said. “I do get pumped up at those big events but some of the most memorable races I remember aren't necessarily Derby or Cup races. It could be an every day race where you simply witness something special. Pat Day's ride aboard '92 Derby winner Lil E. Tee in the Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway that year stands out. I remember seeing Ernie Poulos's Black Tie Affair race in Kentucky. He was just a hard knockin' handicap horse who was always well placed. I respect the day-to-day things that go on in racing.”

“Horsemen are 24/7,” continued Williams. “There aren't many jobs in today's world where you have to be as dedicated to your job as someone who works in horse racing. I have great respect for them and have great respect for the game. I consider myself a horseman, but a horseman who believes in the rule book.”

The post Rick Williams Ready To Enforce ‘Highest Level’ Of Safety Standards At Colonial appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Mid-Atlantic Sees Significant Drop In Racing Fatalities Following Reforms

COVID-19 forced Thoroughbred racing into what was for most a two-month hiatus, but the stakeholders in the Mid Atlantic turned the down time into an opportunity to focus on its Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities.

Regulators, racetracks, horsemen's and breeders' groups representing all seven states in the region – Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia – committed to the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities in 2019. Collectively, they have been working to adopt regulations, protocols and best practices to enhance the safety and integrity of the sport. Their efforts are having an impact. The equine fatality rate in the region has dropped from 1.78 per thousand starts in 2019, to 1.21 per thousand to date this year, a decrease of 33%.

The architects of the Strategic Plan, Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Chairman Alan Foreman and New York State Equine Medical Director Dr. Scott Palmer, provided a progress report on the efforts of the Mid-Atlantic stakeholders Wednesday.

“It is heartening to see that the commitment and hard work of so many in the Mid Atlantic is bearing fruit,” Foreman said. “We have representatives from every faction of the Thoroughbred industry in the region at the table. Everyone has the chance to be heard and their specific issues considered. We are proud to say that, working together, we have been able to make significant advances on issues of medication reform and horse health.”

Dr. Palmer remarked, “In a climate of polarity and discord, the efforts in the Mid Atlantic serve as a shining example of what we can accomplish when we are united behind the cause of equine safety and welfare.”

Every state in the Mid Atlantic has adopted the following reforms:

A prohibition on NSAID “stacking” – the use of more than one NSAID the week of a race
Transfer of joint injection records for claimed horses
Necropsies on equine fatalities
Mortality Review Board
Voidable claim rules

Dr. Tim Parkin, a renowned epidemiologist from the University of Glasgow, released the findings of his latest study using data from The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database in June, noting that those tracks that have instituted a void claim rule in the last 10 years saw a 27% decrease in equine fatalities for those races. The states in the Mid Atlantic have all implemented this additional layer of protection; claims are voidable at the discretion of the claimant if the horse is vanned from the track after the race or is observed to be lame prior to delivery to the new trainer.

Additional reforms have been implemented in all states except West Virginia, including:

48-hour withdrawal time for NSAIDs
Enhanced penalties for NSAID overages
14-day withdrawal for joint injections

The West Virginia Racing Commission considered legislation to adopt the new guidelines for NSAIDs and joint injections, but it ultimately was voted down by the Commission.

“We are disappointed that West Virginia remains an outlier in this area,” Foreman said. “Regulatory changes in the state must go through the legislature, which takes time, but we will continue to work with all parties to get this done.”

There is a strict prohibition on the use of bisphosphonates in all horses under the age of four throughout the region, with a total ban in place in Maryland and Pennsylvania. In May, the Mid Atlantic agreed to adopt restrictions on the use of thyroid supplements, now requiring that a horse be diagnosed with hypothyroidism through a thyroid releasing hormone stimulation test; the treatment plan must be reviewed and approved by the equine medical director or chief regulatory veterinarian in the state. In October, the group moved to restrict the use of clenbuterol. The new rule requires regulatory approval for treatment with clenbuterol, mandates that the horse be placed on the Veterinarian's List, and bars the horse from racing until it tests negative in both blood and urine and completes a satisfactory workout observed by a regulatory veterinarian.

In addition to the regulatory changes, the Mid Atlantic has approved Best Practices in a dozen areas, including:

Biosecurity
Crisis Management Communication
Equine Aftercare
Layoff Report
Pre-Race Inspections
Safety Officer
Shock Wave Therapy

Maryland led the charge on the mandatory Layoff Report, a standardized form that provides regulatory veterinarians with vital information for all horses that have not raced for 150 days or more, including the reason for the layoff, medication and joint injection records, and surgical reports. The Layoff Report has been fully implemented in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, and is in process throughout the Mid Atlantic.

The most high-profile of this year's changes has been the crop rule. The stakeholders in support of the Strategic Plan created a Committee of 24 regulators and stewards to review the many proposals on the table. All interested parties were invited to participate, with the Jockeys' Guild providing significant input during a series of conference calls. A draft was approved during a presentation to more than 50 representatives of the region's racetracks, horsemen's groups and regulatory agencies.

The draft underwent one final review after the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved a rule June 19, and was modified once more to align with provisions in the Kentucky rule. Starting Aug. 1, the rule went into effect in Delaware and Maryland. Pennsylvania followed suit in October. West Virginia has begun the legislative process necessary to adopt it in 2021.

“Uniformity has been a hallmark of the efforts in the Mid Atlantic for more than a decade, going back to the ban on anabolic steroids in 2008,” Foreman said. “Our annual Regulatory meetings have grown year after year, with the focus expanding from medication and testing to include equine welfare and racing integrity. The crop rule is a natural extension of our efforts. We felt it imperative to have a consistent crop rule in every jurisdiction, and we made every effort to ensure that all stakeholders had the chance to weigh in on it.”

A 30-page Strategic Plan Manual, still a work in progress, has been created as a reference for all Mid-Atlantic jurisdictions. There is also a Horsemen's Guide to the Strategic Plan, providing an overview of the regulations and best practices that impact the day-to-day business of training Thoroughbred racehorses.

A second Guide outlines the Risk Factors that have been identified through Dr. Parkin's work with the Equine Injury Database and the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, which horsemen can use to assess their stable and modify care and treatment as necessary for horses at increased risk.

“From day one when concept of the Strategic Plan was first under discussion, this has been a collaborative effort, with all of our stakeholders focused on one thing – doing what is right by the horse,” said the Strategic Plan's Project Manager, Andy Belfiore. “The level of dedication and the amount of time and energy devoted to this initiative from all involved has been remarkable. It has taken a lot of work from the regulators and the state veterinarians, to racetrack's management teams, to the owners and trainers and jockeys, to get to where we are today.”

As the first phase of the Strategic Plan nears completion, the focus turns to the topics including the racetrack maintenance quality system; jockey health; the transfer of horse health records for all claimed horses; and continuing education.

Dr. Kelly Ryan of MedStar Horsemen's Health in Maryland worked with HeadCheck Health to develop a system that establishes concussion protocols for jockeys, as well as providing a HIPAA-compliant portal for jockey health information, and a communications network to ensure that all racetracks on the system are notified if there is an accident or injury affecting a jockey's status to ride. Maryland began a pilot program last fall, and Delaware Park enrolled its riders when racing resumed this spring. Additional jurisdictions are now working with HeadCheck to explore implementation, with the goal of having every Mid-Atlantic racetrack on the network by next year.

The Mid-Atlantic alliance unanimously approved a Continuing Education rule that will go into effect in 2021. Trainers and assistant trainers will have a year to fulfill the requirements, which include four hours annually of CE training, with a minimum of two hours to focus on equine health, safety and welfare. Fulfillment of CE requirements will be a condition of licensing in 2022 for all Mid-Atlantic states. New York already has a CE rule on the books, Maryland has begun the adoption process, West Virginia included it in its legislative package for 2021, and the remaining states have committed to adoption next year.

“New York has been a leader in many areas, including Continuing Education, but the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan is not about one jurisdiction calling the shots for the entire region,” Dr. Palmer concluded. “Working together, we have been able to reach consensus. We have right-minded people in the room who want to do the right thing, and we have a track record for getting things done. What we've accomplished is amazing, and we look forward to continued progress in the coming year.”

The post Mid-Atlantic Sees Significant Drop In Racing Fatalities Following Reforms appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Mid-Atlantic States Move To Restrict Clenbuterol Use

Continuing a decades-long regional effort to enact uniform medication, safety and welfare reforms, protocols and rules, a coalition of 31 regulatory and stakeholder organizations representing all seven states in the Mid-Atlantic region have unanimously agreed to work together to implement a new rule that will significantly restrict the improper use of the bronchodilator clenbuterol.

Under the current regional rule, clenbuterol may not be administered to a horse within 14 days of a race, and the concentration of the drug in a post-race blood sample may not exceed 140 picograms/ml. The new rule will eliminate the existing testing threshold, require regulatory approval in advance for a horse in racing or training that is prescribed the medication, mandate that the horse be placed on the Veterinarian's List, and bar the horse from racing until it tests negative in both blood and urine and completes a satisfactory workout observed by a regulatory veterinarian.

The move to restrict the use of clenbuterol in racing was made during a Mid-Atlantic Zoom meeting held Oct. 15, 2020. The meeting was attended by more than 60 stakeholder leaders from the seven states and regulatory jurisdictions that have committed to the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities. During this meeting, N.Y.S. Gaming Commission Equine Medical Director Dr. Scott Palmer presented data collected from a recent out-of-competition sampling program. Dr. Palmer indicated that the Commission required all horses trained by federally indicted individuals to submit to hair testing for prohibited and impermissible substances prior to those horses being allowed to return to racing.

“The Commission's hair testing review found that clenbuterol was administered to a substantial number of these horses without evidence of a medical prescription,” Dr. Palmer said. “In addition to being a useful therapeutic medication to treat respiratory disease, clenbuterol has re-partitioning effects that can enhance muscle development. Clenbuterol should not be administered to racehorses without a legitimate treatment plan and a proper diagnosis. This new rule will eliminate the improper use of clenbuterol.”

Maryland began their rulemaking process on Oct. 22 and will apply the new restricted rule to both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. New York plans to propose a rule amendment in November. The other jurisdictions will follow suit, navigating the regulatory process necessary for enactment in each state for racing in 2021.

“The Mid-Atlantic's collective work has spearheaded significant industry medication reforms over the years, including the bans on steroids in 2008 and, most recently, the use of bisphosphonates in 2019 and thyroid supplementation earlier this year,” said Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Chairman Alan Foreman, who has facilitated the Mid-Atlantic meetings since their inception. “The region's Uniform Medication and Drug Testing Program in 2014 ultimately became the National Uniform Medication Program. Everyone in the region, including regulators, racetrack operators, horsemen, breeders and veterinarians, is committed to the implementation of the Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities. Working together, we have made, and continue to make, real change.”

The new clenbuterol rule is as follows:

Clenbuterol use is prohibited in racing and training unless the following conditions are met:
a. The prescription for clenbuterol is made for a specific horse based upon a specific diagnosis. The prescription and volume dispensed cannot exceed a treatment period of 30 days.
b. The veterinarian must provide a copy of the prescription and diagnosis to the Equine Medical Director for review and approval. The horse may not receive clenbuterol before this approval is issued.
c. Trainers must make daily notification to the official veterinarian of horse(s) in their custody having been administered clenbuterol. Notification shall be made on a form and by a deadline designated by the Commission.
d. A horse administered clenbuterol shall be placed on the official veterinarian's list. The horse must meet all conditions for removal from the list including a timed workout and blood and urine sampling. Both samples must have no detectable clenbuterol.
e. A horse may not enter to race until it has completed all the requirements in subdivision (d).
If a clenbuterol is detected in a horse's post-race or out of competition sample and appropriate notification as outlined in subdivision 1(a) or (b) was not completed, the horse shall immediately be placed on the Official Veterinarian's List pending the outcome of an investigation. The horse shall be required to meet all conditions for removal from the veterinarian's list outlined in subdivision 1(d), above.

Click here for a copy of the Strategic Plan.

The post Mid-Atlantic States Move To Restrict Clenbuterol Use appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post